Happy Holidays!

We hope everyone had a Very Merry Christmas. Here are a few pictures from Christmas morning!

Santa came---yay!

Amelia after church. The coat she is wearing was mine as a little girl, it finally fits her!

Pregnancy Pics

I haven't updated with pregnancy pics for a while. Next week will be the 30 week update! :)

1st Visit to the ER

Well, we took our first trip to the ER with Paul tonight. After dinner he was playing in the living room on his Bounce and Spin Zebra and he had tipped it on it's side and was goofing around on it, it tipped over while he was on it and he hit his forehead on the coffee table. He started crying very hard, instantly. And when I picked him up, he already had a large goose egg and bruise on his forehead and I picked him up within 5 seconds of it happening. Anyone who knows Paul, knows when he gets hurt, or we think he's hurt he just says "Ouch!", rubs what ever place he hurt and then continues whatever he was doing. So I knew something was wrong when he just cried hard. Kevin was at church teaching his Religion class, Gene had came home to eat and Amelia and I were sitting at the table eating too. Paul, on the other hand, had decided he was done eating and was running around. Gene, being the EMT that he his, looked it over right away and I asked if he thought we should take him in to have it checked over. He said he thought that would be best and he called Kevin right away to come home so we could run him up to the emergency room. Thankfully it was a slow night in the ER and we got right in. The doctor checked him over and gave us the green light to take him home, told us what to watch for and to give him some Motrin before bed. Paul impressed the doctor with how well he sat on the exam table while he looked him over. We're happy that everything is okay, glad we took him into the ER to have it all checked over. It is quite the protrusion on his forehead! Below are some pictures from tonight before bed.

I'm sure this wasn't our last trip to the ER with our "spirited" child! :) Oh and I should add, he hopped right back on that darn Zebra as soon as we got home from the ER!

Dear Santa...

We took the kids to see Santa on Saturday night. Paul wasn't so sure of Santa! Here are a few pictures.

24 weeks down...

Hard to believe that 24 weeks of pregnancy have already passed by! Seems like just yesterday that we found out. Must be the fact that we're always busy with something and now with the move, time will go even quicker! I can't believe Thanksgiving is two weeks from tomorrow! Crazy, crazy! Baby is moving more and more everyday! About two weeks ago I was able to see baby moving around on the outside. I don't remember that happening this early with the other two, but I think it's just amazing watching your clothing move, knowing you're not the one moving it! And it never fails, the minute I lay down in bed for the night, baby thinks it's time to party! Monday night it was about midnight when we headed to bed and just as I'm trying to fall asleep, boom! Baby is a movin'! It's like someone cranked up the music and there was a little party going on in my belly!

Amelia and Paul are still thrilled about the baby...I think!! I know Amelia is for sure. But the other night we were sitting at Gene's eating dinner, and we're talking about where everyone was going to sleep when we move, and I asked Paul if he wanted a big boy bed, and he said "No!, I sleep in my camper (his crib with the crib tent over it!)" I said "Well, can't the baby have your crib?" (We do have a 2nd crib in our basement, which will go in Paul's room and the crib he's sleeping in right now will go in baby's room as it's our really nice crib! Of course, he said no and I said, "where is the baby going to sleep then?" He said (while pointing to my ever growing midsection) "In there! In you tummy!" I said "well baby can't stay in there forever" and then he said "Yes!" Silly boy! It'll be interesting when this baby gets here that's for sure! Luckily we have two cribs and we'll set up the extra crib in his room, along with his twin big boy bed, and when he's ready to sleep in his big boy bed, he can!

Both kids are still saying "Baby Sister" and I think it's a girl as well. But I've been known to be wrong in the past! I thought for sure Amelia was a boy until about a month before she was born and I started having baby girl dreams. I haven't had any dreams about the baby's sex this time around! When I was pregnant with Amelia, I saw her in my dreams a lot towards the end of my pregnancy. It's kind of weird, how accurate my dreams were with her. I've had a few dreams this time around about having the baby, but never actually seeing him/her in my dreams to find out what the sex is!

I have my next appointment next Thursday morning. I'll try and post an update if there is anything significant! I can't wait to meet with the OB who did my c-section with Paul, to find out when this baby will be born! I'm thinking we won't meet with him until January.

Nothing real exciting going on currently with baby, just all the craziness that is our life!

Good night!

Happy 2nd Birthday!!

I can't believe our baby boy turned two yesterday! Crazy to think! Where did the last two years of my life go? He's not so little anymore. Here are some pictures from his birthday party yesterday!! Enjoy!

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from a couple of cute crayons!

22 weeks

Pumpkin Carving!

We carved pumpkins with the kids tonight for the very first time! They had a great time doing it. At first Amelia wasn't so sure she wanted to take the seeds out, but decided it was fun! Here are a few pictures!









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Pumpkin Patch

My mom and step-dad came to visit for the weekend. It was a nice weekend to have them. We went to the pumpkin patch on Saturday to pick out some pumpkins for the kids. We're not sure yet if we'll carve them, or just leave them on our front step!










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18 of 40

Welcome week 18! Yikes! Where did the time go? I'm almost half-way there! According to my babycenter.com weekly e-mail, the baby is approximately 5-1/2 inches long and weighs about 7 ounces. I really like my weekly e-mails, it kind of puts everything into perspective as to what your body is doing each week and the progress the baby is making.

Monday night Kevin got to feel the baby move for the first time, which was very exciting! I can't remember at what week we were able to feel Paul move on the outside, but we were able to feel Amelia at 21 weeks, so this is definitely a lot sooner! It's weird to think that in about 21 weeks we'll have a brand new baby in our family.

We have our "big" ultrasound in two weeks. Which, in reality means they do a bunch of measurements to make sure everything is looking a-okay with baby! We could find out the sex of the baby if we wanted to, but so far we're not planning on finding out. We didn't find out with Amelia and Paul and the surprise of it all was amazing at their births! So we'll see!

Movin' right along!

Me change Pauly's Diaper...

approximately 11:45 am.
Saturday, September 27, 2008

I'm on the phone with Jodi, in regards to Randi's baby shower that was taking place today. Amelia and Paul were suppose to be eating lunch...however, they weren't! Amelia came up to me, "Mommy, Pauly pooped!" and I said "Okay, just a minute" trying to put it off until I finish my phone conversation. Five minutes later, she comes back "Mommy, Pauly pooped!' Me: "Yes honey, I know!" I'm getting ready to finish up with Jodi and I it's pretty silent in our house...which by the way, isn't very normal, unless the kids are sleeping or they are up to something. So I run in to the living room to check on them....

...I find that Amelia has gone into the daycare diaper bag, grabbed out a new diaper and a brand new unopened package of baby wipes. Paul is laying on the living room floor, diaper off, poop on his butt, laying on the carpet! YIKES!!! All I could think in the back of my head was "There is poop on my carpet!"

Poor Amelia is trying to open the package of wipes while she says to me, "Mommy, me change Pauly's diaper" If was a very sweet thing to see. She was trying to take matters into her own hands and help me out by changing him. So I helped her, I got the wipes opened for her, started wiping him up and then she wiped his hind end, and says "Eww, that's gross" and went and threw the wipe away. I finished the diaper change. I can only imagine what's going to come to be once number three arrives!

preschool update...

Amelia completed her forth week of preschool today! It's hard to believe September is almost over!! She's really starting to like it a lot and is less apprehensive every week I drop her off at school. She loves playing with her new friends and that she gets to do something without Paul.

Each week they go have library time and she brings home a new book to read each week. She really seems to enjoy getting to pick out a new book and we read it each Friday night before bed. She even wants to sleep with the book. In a couple weeks she's going on her first field trip and she's going to be so excited because they are taking a bus to an apple orchard just outside of town. They'll get to taste different kinds of apples, try apple cider and tour the apple orchard. I wish I could sneak out of work to chaperone the field trip, maybe next time.

After Kevin picks her up from school, she gets to head back to work with him for a short time to have lunch and then she goes to daycare. He even lets her pick what's for lunch. Typically it's hot dogs! I told her she's going to turn into a hot dog!

Paul is really developing quite the little personality! He's one happy little guy, and is starting to grow finally!! I'm starting to notice his 18 month pj's are a little snug on him these days, he might actually graduate into 24 month size by his 2nd birthday! :)

All is well on the homefront!

Girlfriends' Mystery Tour

Saturday, September 20, 2008
Naomi (co-worker/friend) and I set out for a fabulous day out on our "Girlfriends' Mystery Tour." This was our Christmas present from the doctors, what a fabulous gift! We were suppose to go back in May with four other co-workers, but unfortunately our tour was canceled due to a large group backing out at the last minute. The first group of girls (eight total) went the first Saturday in May and had a blast! So we were all a bit disappointed that our tour was canceled.

The weather yesterday was perfect, we couldn't have asked for a better day out!! Read on about our many destinations. Remember, the key to this event, was that it was all a mystery and we had no idea where we were going until we arrived at our destination!

Naomi and I on the bus

Our bus left Apple Valley around 9:45. It was suppose to leave promptly at 9:30, but there was a late girlfriend. The bus ride started out with mimosa's, or in our case, plain orange juice and reciting "The Girlfriends' Mystery Tour Pledge."

Our first stop was for brunch at Spill the Wine in downtown Minneapolis. We enjoyed a nice brunch and those who could, sampled a glass of red wine. After leaving Spill the Wine, we headed for the Guthrie Theater, upon arriving at the Guthrie, we learned we were going to go on horse drawn carriage rides across the Stone Arch Bridge. After our carriage rides, we toured the Guthrie and walked out onto the endless bridge. What a beautiful place!

Reflection...

Endless Bridge @ the Guthrie

On the Endless Bridge

After touring the Guthrie, we walked over to the Mill City Farmer's Market, which was pretty cool. Lots of goodies for sale! I enjoyed a fresh squeezed strawberry lemonade!

After leaving the Guthrie/Mill City Farmer's Market we were off to St. Paul. We took a river cruise upon the Jonathan Padleford.

After leaving the Padleford we went back to Minneapolis to the Hennepin Center for the Arts for salsa dancing lessons...learned that I'm still as uncoordinated as ever!

Then it was time for dinner!! Off to Gasthof zur Gemutlichkeit for a fabulous German dinner. I must admit, it wouldn't have been my first choice for dinner, but it was a day of doing new things and I tried the food, loved it and now I want to go back!! The atmosphere was a lot of fun and really added to the dining experience. And with Oktoberfest going on, that added a little more to the experience! I would highly recommend if you're ever in NE Minneapolis to check this place out!

Our final destination was to the Fun Sisters Boutique, they opened up just for us for our own private shopping experience. They had a lot of neat stuff and I even scored a new handbag!

I highly recommend if you're looking for a great gift for someone or just a fun day out with some friends or mother/daughter day out that you check out Girlfriends' Mystery Tour.
My new handbag...the straps are brown.

16 weeks in...

Today I started week number sixteen! Woo Hoo! I can't believe how fast this is going. I suppose that could have something to do with the fact we've been busy pretty much every weekend since we found out we were expecting baby number three!

According to BabyCenter.com the baby is about the size of an avocado. So weird to think of the baby as a piece of fruit in relation to it's size! About 4-1/2 inches long crown to rump and weighs in at about 3-1/2 ounces. The baby's heart pumps about 25 quarts of blood a day. Wow! That seems like a lot for someone so small! His/her legs are much more developed, his/her head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position. The patterning of his/her scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails.

Amelia and Paul are still really excited about the baby! Saturday we went to Babies R Us to pick out Randi's baby shower gift and Amelia wanted to buy the whole store! She found an infant car seat and stroller she wanted to buy for "our baby." I think she would have taken one of everything for the baby had Mary or I allowed it! But they did talk Grandma into buying gifts for the baby. Pauly picked out a Lumpy (from My Friends Tigger and Pooh) linking toy and Amelia thought the baby needed "nookies", so she got some pacifiers for the baby! And Grandma Mary picked up a baby's first St. Patty's day stuffed rattle. So that was kind of fun to involve the kids! It's fun to see them excited about the baby. Everyday Amelia still asks to see the baby! And doesn't get that she can't see it yet! Paul lifts up my shirt and sings "twinkle, twinkle" to the baby. It's so sweet! :) I love my kids and I love my life!!

Off to bed!

Oh yea, one last thing...I've been meaning to mention the BABY BOOM amongst our friends! It's mighty crazy that's for sure! :) There are going to be lots of friends for baby #3 to play with!

Randi and Scott are due November 2, 2008 (baby #1)
Megan and Shawn are due March 9, 2009 (baby #1)
Kelly and Matt are due March 11, 2009 (baby #2)
Naomi and Dave are due March 25, 2009 (baby #1)
Jodi and Dustin are due April 16, 2009 (baby #2)

*I think I have every one's due dates correct, if they are wrong, I'm sure my lovely friends will correct me! :)

We're so excited that everyone else is having babies around the same time we are! :)

Happy Birthday...

Tuesday September 16, 2008
5:45 AM

I'm waking up with the aftermath of a migraine. Okay, so it's still lingering. At this point, Paul had been in our room for about 30 minutes. Depending on the day, he's sometimes any early riser. He had been laying so nice next to me cuddling, when all of a sudden his decides to sit up and sing his rendition of "Happy Birthday." It's very cute, but I still have a headache and I just want some peace and quiet! So he starts out... "Happy Birthday to Daddy, Mommy, Mimi (Amelia), Papa, Logan..." He just rambled through a bunch of names and then started singing... "Happy birthday to Logan. Happy Birthday to Logan" It was so cute! I said "today is Logan's birthday Paul, good job" and he looks at me and says "No! My birthday!" We went to Logan's birthday party on Sunday, so I'm sure he still was thinking about that and how we sang happy birthday! Just too cute not to share!

"Mommy, I cook supper"

I've been busy all day cleaning and getting our house ready for the new realtor to come tomorrow night. Our current contract runs out tonight at midnight, and we're not renewing it. So I've been working on all the things I've been neglecting for the last month and a half. We haven't had a single weekend home since July! It's just been nuts, so needless to say, our house has suffered because of it! So I've been doing lots of cleaning and de-cluttering today. However, I feel like I still have a bunch to do and I have a killer sinus headache and can't take any more Tylenol! Kevin is gone at his fire meeting until who knows when. I've been busy all day. About 5:30, I was doing some things and come into the kitchen and look and Amelia has pulled out a pan from the cupboard and has opened the box of hamburger helper. And she looks at me and says "Mommy, I cook supper." It was so sweet, I had been busy all day, I guess she thought she'd help out. I helped her get dinner going, well I mostly cooked it and she sat on the cupboard "helping". But what a sweet gesture!

Off to do more cleaning and get the kids to bed!

Amelia's First Day of Preschool!

I just dropped Amelia off for her first day of preschool! She was really excited about it, until we got there, then she was a bit apprehensive. Her teacher took her hand to take her to play with the other kids, so hopefully she'll be okay! Kevin is picking her up at 11:00 am. I'll update later how her day was! Off to work!! Enjoy the pics! :)

Outside her new classroom!

*Update on Pauly.

Paul headed off to daycare by himself for the very first time today!! I called Kevin on my way to work to see how he did. This is what he told me. They got to daycare and he got Paul out of the truck and...

• Paul said "Where's MiMi?"
• Kevin said "She's at preschool"
• Paul: "Why?"
• Kevin: "Because she is."
• Paul: "Okay!"

That was it! He was perfectly fine with her going!
11:18 A.M.: Just heard from Kevin. Sounds like she did great! She was over needing mommy about two minutes after I left! She asked to go potty 3 times, her teacher thinks that was just nerves, said a lot of the kids asked to go potty a lot! They were headed back to the station, he was making hot dogs for lunch then taking her to Kim's for the afternoon! I think next week will go even smoother!