Christmas 2013

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Saturday we celebrated Christmas with Josh's family. We ate dinner at Village Inn Pizza and I couldn't have been happier! The food was fantastic and the company was even better! I didn't get many pictures, but here's one of the boys. All my iPhone pics were blurry. That irritates me to no end!

And here's a pic from their Christmas card with one of my Christmas mustache magnets :)

When we returned from NC, my sister from Maine was in town. Yesterday, Christmas Day, my family spent the day at Mom's eating and playing games. We had a great time. Here's a few pics since they say it better than I could.

What our Christmas Card might have looked like .... if we made one this year!

The whole family together for once!

Christmas Eve Presents (Chaos)

More Christmas Eve

Papa and the kids being silly!

Christmas Day Fun

More Christmas Day Fun

 I'll be 31 weeks along tomorrow so next week I hope to have another update. 

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!!

Almost forgot these ... here's our tree scouting :)

We crossed through the seven levels of the Candy Cane forest, through the sea of swirly twirly gum drops, ... kidding! We went to Kroger!

And here's a sneak peak of the Nursery ... it's starting to come together!  

28 Weeks Update

Hello third trimester! The second trimester seemed to fly by! Here's a little update since last time:

This week's doctor visit went very well. I had the glucose test but I haven't received the results yet. I'm hoping they come back saying I do not have gestational diabetes! Peanut is growing very well despite my thyroid issue. He is in the 70th percentile per the ultrasound. That is comforting yet scary! How big is he going to be??? Josh was able to come with me this time and see Peanut in the 3D ultrasound. On the screen, he looks amazing! The pictures don't do him justice. He didn't exactly cooperate so I don't have an new great pictures to post of him. The doctor said as he gets more meat on his bones the 3D images will be clearer. I go back for another ultrasound in a month or so and will hopefully be able to post more pics then.

How's life been? Danielle came for a visit. It was a ton of fun hanging out doing girl stuff! We even found time to see the Hunger Games with Josh. Thanks for visiting Danielle! Here's the only pic I got of that visit:

Then came Thanksgiving. We spent the day at my parents and then Keith came in for a visit (no pictures! I've really got to get better at using the camera. I mean, that is what I bought it for!). I can't believe how this year is flying by.

I've only got two more working weeks of the year - that sounds exciting! I'm only taking a week off for Christmas, but it sounds better when I say it this way!

From here on out, I'll try to get pictures every two weeks. There isn't too much going on (other than the holidays) as I'm trying to take advantage of the down time I have. I'm getting lots of sleep and generally resting. I hear those days are numbered and I don't want to waste a single one!

Until next time!

November Baby Update

Feels like it has been a while since I last posted. So here's a quick catch up:

I've been experiencing some acid reflux/indigestion or something nightly. That's no fun! Going up and down stairs and walking or standing a lot wears me out more than it used too. Today is the last day of our Be Well challenge for work and I'm looking forward to not having to wear a pedometer daily! It's kinda sad to see how quickly I wear out these days. Though, it was motivating to make me walk a bit more. I'll have to be careful to not get lazier. I'm sleeping pretty good still. Getting used to sleeping on my side and getting up 2 or more times a night. It doesn't bother me as much as I thought it would because it's really easy to fall back asleep. Perhaps it is practice for the months ahead ... wait, I don't think anything can really prepare me for that .. he is worth it though. Getting out of Josh's car is becoming more and more difficult. It's kinda funny cause now he has to give me a boost or just a lot of extra time to get out. I'm sure it's a hoot watching me get out in our driveway since it's a hill. I'm just not that used to being down so low since my car is a lot higher.

This month's ultrasound gave us great pics of Peanut! Here's a few:

Look at  that cute little face!

I think he has his momma's legs :) It's incredible the clarity!

Josh has been great! He has put all the nursery furniture together and it's really starting to look like a nursery! The only major item I am missing is a rocker/glider. I'm trying to decide what type I want (and if I need two - one for upstairs and one for downstairs). Nursery furniture is not cheap so each piece has been a major decision and Josh has been very patient! Once I feel like the nursery is "complete," I will post a few pictures. The colors are green and blue and it seems like we have a nautical theme. We didn't intend for it to go that route, it just kind of happened. It's so funny how you go to a store and there are like five rows of baby gear: 3 girl, 1 boy, 1 neutral. It limits your boy options quite a bit! But we are frugal (I think so) and are piecing things together.

Things are starting to pick up as the holidays get closer. Last weekend the Church family came for a visit and we had a great time catching up. We went to Colonial Williamsburg for the first time ever. It was a beautiful day and perfect for getting in some good walking and eating. Here's a couple cute gifts they gave us. They are too cute not to share!

Next weekend Danielle is coming for a visit (it's on the calendar so I hope we can make the date!). Then it's Thanksgiving and before we know it, Christmas. I can't believe how fast time is flying by! It feels like just yesterday we found out about little Peanut and now we are only a few months away from meeting him. This time next year, my life will be completely different than it is now. It's hard to imagine, but I am looking forward to the changes and hearing his little giggles in the house!

I'll try to be on time for week 28!

It's a ...

BOY!

We went for our full ultrasound Tuesday, and the only good shot we got of peanut was the one that proved he is a boy. Go figure, right? I'll go back in a month for them to check a few more things and hopefully he will cooperate a bit more and I'll have some good peanut pics to post. Until then, here's a few pics of us:

Got Trophyhus to join in the photo fun.

This one's for McKenzie - she loves the little heart shots!

Overall, we are doing very well. I'm over the sickness and have a fair amount of energy most days. Most foods/drinks still don't taste "right" or how I remembered them but I've been able to keep everything down. I'm very thankful for that! The doctor says everything looks on track with no known issues - even more thankful for that! Josh is a real trooper. He's been very loving and kind and is listening very well to my ever changing demands. I love my husband!

We've started the nursery process. So far, we have a crib. Josh and I used our Columbus Day off work (today) to clean out the nursery room closet. How do two people accumulate so much junk? Thankfully, we found a different closet to shove it all into! So if you come for a visit, closets are off limits!! Seriously, I cannot guarantee that you will escape unharmed. Organizing the nursery slowly is something I am going to struggle with as I want it all done now (or yesterday)! But we are trying to be slow and spend as we go. It's a lot of big decisions and I'm trying to make smart ones. There's so much you can buy ... but only so much you actually need. Pacing myself is not one of my strengths!

The hardest decision so far - baby names! I'm pretty sure we will not share the name of the baby until he gets here. So in the meantime, we have to find one we agree on :) We've started a list and change it quite often.

That's all for now! Check back in a few weeks :)

September - Baby Update

Life as we know it will never be the same. I often wonder if I will ever fill normal again. But what is normal anyway? Looking forward to the changes that are coming though!

Josh and I took a day to ourselves at VA Beach yesterday. It was nice getting away just the two of us (need to enjoy it while we can!). We were almost at the beach when I saw a sign for Schlotzsky's Deli and made Josh take the next exit. I love this place! You can't beat their original sandwich. I remember bringing those home to Ric when I lived with him and Ingrid during college. It still taste just as good as I remember.

Time for a change

Maybe I should change the name of this blog. I feel like a hypocrite. It has really been a long time since I went for a run ... a real run. I have plenty of "reasons" ... but my favorite "reason" is that Josh and I are expanding our family ...

Yep! Baby Casey will be joining us February 2014! Here's a few photos to catch you up ...

We found out on June 20th - my father-in-law's birthday. We celebrated by having date night at Ginger Red's and Josh bought me beautiful flowers.

At 8 weeks we had our first ultrasound. It's sad that the picture didn't come out nearly as clear as it was on the monitor. This little gummy bear was moving all over the place!

Carrie left us our first baby gift the day of our first appointment. We were very surprised!

During the week of July 4th we had to tell my family because I had been avoiding them. It was so difficult not to tell them every time I talked to them! I was too sick to hang out for the 4th so I spilled the beans. I wish I could have caught their reaction on camera but I didn't.

The weekend of August 9th, Josh's family came for a visit and we shared the news with them. Below is a picture of Grandpa's reaction (I cropped Lainey out due to an unflattering photo only! Nothing personal).

We are absolutely thrilled to be expecting our first child! I love being an aunt so I can only imagine what being a momma will be like. We are officially 12 weeks along. So far, I've been fine except nightly I crash around 8-8:30pm. I am so tired! I can't wait for the 2nd trimester where I hear I'll get some energy back. Then, maybe I can pick up walking or something ... well, we'll see :)

Here's a few more pics we played around with this morning:

I forgot to take my pedometer off ... that's the bulge in my pocket.

Everything looks better in black!

So while I haven't been running, I've been trying to find anything and every thing that actually taste good. It's amazing how my taste has changed. The other day I actually ordered just cotton candy flavored fro-yo ... no chocolate, no peanut butter. This is nothing like me! I have to say the best thing I've had this summer though is Blue Bell Banana Split ice cream - yum!

Myrtle Beach Trip with the Church family June

Josh and I joined the Church family for a fun few days at Myrtle Beach this past weekend. It was a lot of fun. The boys LOVE Josh ... can you blame them? :)

Here are a bunch of pictures to show you the fun:

End of Day #1 ... little bit of sunburn but we're alright!
Jackson, Hayden, Josh, and Savannah

Hanging at the beach

Playing cards

Putt Putt Outing 

The big boys: Josh, Mike, and Tyler (they have a "Big Head Tyler" too! Or as the kids say uncle Tywer :)

Josh's hole in one! Well, one of three ...

Selfie

Last day on the beach - Mike found crabs and grossed us out a bit

Hanging out under our new umbrella - it's fantastic!

Broadway at the Beach Fun

Hayden jumping

Jackson flipping

Savannah was not happy!

  

Savannah loved this ride (if you can find her in the pic)

Baby Wyatt just hanging out :)

Hurricane reenactment 

It was a very busy but fun few days. It was great catching up with some friends and loving on their children. All four kiddos have distinct personalities and are fun to be around. Can't wait to do this again!

What am I running for? Well, we had a great key lime pie from Duffy Street Seafood Shack our first night there ... and it was good for days since we bought a whole pie! Plus the "Vanna White" ice cream, Mike's delish quesadillas and dinner from Key West Grill. Great food and even better fellowship! Laying out on the beach counts as exercise, right?