happy birthday grandma carrie!

My mom turned 45 today. The last time we saw her was at the Relay for Life, so these are the most recent pictures I have of her with the kids. However, none with her and Amelia.

Happy Birthday Mom! :)

12 weeks in

I can't believe I already have 12 weeks behind me. That means I'm 12 weeks closer to meeting our new little one. I can hardly wait. I think the kids are pretty excited as well. Both constantly come up to me and talk to the baby in my stomach. Paul usually pulls up my shirt and says "Baby", kisses my belly and then proceeds to talk to the baby...not always real sure what he's saying. But it's super sweet anyway. Amelia is practicing to be a big sister again. She all of a sudden wants to help change Paul's diaper or do it herself. We always do it supervised! :) So hopefully she'll continue to be a good helper when the baby come!

According to my babycenter.com weekly e-mail, the baby is about the size of a lime. From crown to rump he/she is just over 2 inches long and weighs about an ounce. The most dramatic change this week is the baby is developing his/her reflexes. The baby will soon be able to open their fingers, curl their toes, muscles will clench and the mouth will start making sucking movements. How cool is all of that?! Even though this is my 3rd pregnancy, it never ceases to amaze me the things a woman's body can do. What an incredible gift from God.

I have my next Doctor's appointment tomorrow morning. He will be checking the heartbeat. I can't wait!! I love hearing the heartbeat for the first time. It's pretty stinkin' amazing! I'm finally starting to feel like my old self again, minus the constant state of tiredness that has become my life. I'm no longer nauseous and smells don't seem to bother me as much and food is starting to sound much better...however, I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not. However the things I craved and lived for throughout my other two pregnancies, don't always sound the greatest now.

Things I loved with Amelia: Pepperoni pizza with green olives and extra cheese (from Davanni's), Grape kool-aid, Grape pop-cicles, veggie burritos from Chipotle.

With Paul: anything spicy, jalapenos, Steak burritos from Chipotle (just couldn't do it with Amelia)

This time: nothing that I absolutely have to have. Although Chinese food doesn't sound half that bad considering I hated it with both Amelia and Paul. I am craving tacos a lot lately. That's about it!

This is a cool baby name website that Kelly told me about.

That's enough baby stuff!

It's been a crazy busy week for us already. Sunday we spent all day at the MN Zoo (see post below), Monday I worked for someone else in the morning, then picked the kids up from daycare, got home at three, got ready and then we (Kev, Amelia and I) headed back to work to catch the coach bus to go to the Saint Paul Saints Game. It was a blast. I think the kids had the best time of everyone. It was so much fun watching them all interact with each other. Amelia loved riding on the big bus and playing with her new found friends. Monday night was a late night, it was 11:30 when we rolled into the parking lot of the dental office. I'm still paying for it today! Last night we had our friends Shawn and Megan over for dinner. Tonight we just relaxed. Friday afternoon (as long as the weather holds out) we're planning on heading to the Great Minnesota Get-together. (The State Fair).

I think that's all for our update. I'll try and post an update tomorrow night after my Doctors appointment!

PS-I apologize for the rambling...I'm very tired! :)

No-Sew Tu-Tu

I finished my first, okay my second no-sew tu-tu. The first one I never actually finished. I had run out of tulle and since I bought more, I've been putting it off and have forgotten about it. Soon, I will finish it for Miss Amelia. The tu-tu above that Amelia is modeling is for our niece Brenna. Shana had asked me back in March if I could make one for Brenna. I've had the tulle since then, we're finally seeing them tomorrow, so I thought I better get the tu-tu done. It took me maybe a little over an hour.

How I did it...
-cut a long piece of ribbon (I never measured it, but you need enough to fit around the waist along with enough to tie the tutu into a bow on the back.)
-tulle cut into 18 inch strips

fold a piece of tulle in half over the ribbon and double knot it. Continue this until you have enough to go around the child. leave enough ribbon to tie a bow.

Finished product...

Gregg Family Camping Trip

Well, the Gregg Family made it's first camping trip!! Finally in the year 2008, everyone has a camper with the exception of Amber and Zane. We decided we should all try camping together for our annual August Gregg Family Get together. After searching high and low for a campground to meet in the middle, to no avail, we ended up at Rush Lake Tent and Trailer on Rush Lake. I called about 15 campgrounds, searched about 10 more online and could find absolutely NOTHING in between. Go figure, right? Ron and Terri normally camp at RLT&T, so they suggested it. It's a great campground. Affordable and nice and clean. If only it was a little closer to home, we'd venture there more often!! Oh well, it was still a great time had by all. I didn't get a lot of pictures this weekend, but here are a few to share.

I think we'll all try the camping thing again! Amelia and Paul had a BLAST!! We took the kids fishing, we picked up poles for them at Walmart on our way up north. Amelia picked out a Barbie pole and Pauly picked out a Cars one. Despite our best effort, Paul hates fishing! Amber was helping him, they caught a fish, she pulled it out of the water, he flipped. Started crying. Then she took it off the hook, dropped it on the floor of the pontoon and the poor little sunny was flopping around and Paul is shaking his head no and saying "I don't want to fishy! I don't want to fishy." Now if we mention fishing at home he says "I don't want to fishy." Yep, I think he's been traumatized by the flopping sunfish. Thanks Amber! :)

Rainbow after the rain Friday night

Relaxin' by Granny and Papa's camper waiting for everyone else to arrive!

Saturday Morning Fishing

Paul, Britta and Amelia on the boys' bed (Daddy and Pauly's)

Lookin' out the window!
Cruisin' with Papa Dave
Paul and CoCo
Uncle Ron helping Amelia fish
Mr. cool

Pauly and Great Papa drivin' the pontoon

Courtney fishing with Amelia's Barbie Pole

Amelia wanted Papa Matt to eat breakfast by her. Lucky for her, Papa decided to sit at her little table! :)

10 down, 29 to go.

Wow. So far, I think this whole pregnancy business if goin' by quick!! We found out June 29, 2008 that we were expecting baby #3. Wowza!! I can hardly believe I have 10 weeks under my belt already. Must be the fact that the other two kiddos are keeping me hoppin'!

A pregnancy is 40 weeks, I have 10 down, and will most likely have my c-section at or around week 39, so technically I only have 29 more weeks to go!

According to my babycenter.com weekly pregnancy update the baby is now the size of a kumquat. A little over an inch and a half long. And weighs less than a quarter of an ounce. Any bets on how big this baby will be?! Amelia was 8 lbs 7 oz and 20-1/2 inches. Pauly was 9 lbs. 1 oz and 20-1/2 inches long. Funny how they were both the same length. My guess is that this baby will weigh more than 9 lbs 1 oz. Post your guesses here (in the comments section) and we'll see who's closest when the baby is born. Maybe there will be a little prize involved.... you just never know!!

Amelia and Paul are growing like weeks. Amelia is starting preschool in September. She will go Friday mornings from 8:30-11. We're sending her to the Catholic School to the Little Lambs program. She will be attending Catholic School when she starts Kindergarten, so we thought it was perfect that they have preschool too, that way she'll be familiar with the school when she heads to kindergarten. She's already telling people that she's FIVE, when asked her age. Also is telling everyone "I'm going to school. Not Pauly, he goes to Kimmy's." Yep, she's mighty proud she has one up on her brother. However, she doesn't realize he's still quite a bit younger than her as well! Should be interesting dropping her off the first day. Kevin thinks I'm going to be a standing in a puddle of my own tears. He said "Maybe I better drop her off at preschool her first day, you're going to be a wreck." Yes, maybe I will be a wreck...but at least I have an excuse. I can blame it on those crazy pregnancy hormones!! I'm sure Paul will be lost that first day Kevin drops him off at daycare without Amelia, but once he realizes she'll be there for the afternoon, he should be a-okay. They don't like to go places without one another. Which I guess, is a good thing!!

Paul if VERY active and I'm sure he's giving me grey hair!! He scares me when we go to the park. He has to go down the biggest, tallest, most windy slide there is...ALL. BY. HIMSELF! Nope, he doesn't want help! That and he thinks he is invincible. And climbs up the slides the wrong way. What am I going to do with this child?! He is going to age me very quick!!

As a whole, we're doing well. Our house is still on the market, nothing yet. (even with St. Joseph planted snugly in our front flower bed) We're starting to get pretty bummed about it, but hopefully soon. We're praying hard that something will happen soon. Otherwise we just might be living in a cardboard box on the corner because we will no longer be able to afford our house once this baby comes!! Or maybe we can just park our camper somewhere in live in that?! How's that sound for cozy?! HA!! Anyway, please pray for us that something will happen with our house soon!

So there you have it my friends. Finally an update of sorts from us! :)

Have a great weekend!!

Belly Picture #1.

10 weeks. 08.06.08

I did Belly pictures every two weeks with Amelia and Paul and will continue to do it for this pregnancy as well. The earliest I've taken them is 10-12 weeks. At the end of my pregnancy, I make a little photobook with all the "belly pictures" and then put it in the kids' memory boxes. I highly recommend doing this for every pregnancy and it's a great keepsake! I swear this picture, looks like I did when I was 16 weeks with Amelia! I'll try and find that picture later (see below)!

I made this for size comparison of all three pregnancies!