Halloween Fun!

watcing Daddy carve the pumpkin


really interested in the pumpkin carving


checking out the finished product


our little lion eating a cookie at the daycare Halloween party on Friday

playing games at the daycare Halloween party

checking out the pumpkin on Halloween afternoon

CHEESE!

Mara as a lion, posing with the pumpkin

Mara and cousin Rylee at Grandma and Grandpa's house

Uncle Derek helping Mara pick out some candy (she liked to empty the bucket and then fill it up again)

attempting to get both Rylee and Mara in a picture with Great Grandma

We had a fun Halloween! Mara loved wearing her costume and had lots of fun playing with candy (she did have a bite or two, but mostly she was happy to just play with it!). She got to see her cousin Rylee and actually looked at her a couple times and did say "baby" when she made a little noise. It was a fun weekend! Hard to believe that next year we'll have TWO little ones to dress up for Halloween!

21 Weeks

I haven't been as good about taking belly pictures this time around as I was during my first pregnancy (I did a weekly picture starting at 12 weeks last time I think! This time I only have 2-3 pictures total so far!). I did manage to get one over the weekend though. I'm 21 weeks (almost 22 now) pregnant, and it's getting hard to hide (not that I'm really trying)!

I need to dig out my pictures from last time and see how they compare. Some people have guessed boy or girl based on this picture, but it's pretty evenly split so far. I feel like I'm maybe a bit bigger this time around at this point, but sometimes I don't feel like there is much there yet.

I am not feeling the baby move yet (I have felt a couple small 'pushes' but nothing consistent) because of the location of my placenta, so I am eager for that to start soon...that's my favorite part of being pregnant!

Overall, I am feeling pretty decent. I get worn out and hot pretty easily. Can't just stand around or be out and about shopping or doing things like that for long, but I'm used to that from last time! I've been taking Zofran, but not every day and not feeling too bad (usually some nausea right away in the morning, but it's been much better), so I'm pretty thrilled about that!!

It's hard to believe I am due in just over four months! I feel like I have a lot to accomplish before then...

Then and Now - Winter Coat

Last year Mara didn't spend much time out in the snow, since she wasn't old enough to walk (and wasn't really crawling most of the winter either), but we did get her out to at least get this cute picture in late November. We had bought a winter coat for her, but it was HUGE on her, so it looked pretty comical.

Cut to this past weekend...and the same coat. It fits! It's a little snug if she has snowpants or a big sweatshirt on, but otherwise, it works just fine! Kind of funny to see how much she's changed, yet how much she is still the same! I think she will really have fun this winter playing in the snow!

Snow!

It's way too early to have this much snow! Luckily this is from yesterday, and most of it has melted now. But it was a little crazy for awhile there! It started out as rain, then got a little slushy and turned to snow, and wouldn't stop! It was snowing big flakes most of the afternoon. Kind of crazy for October 23rd. It was looking a little too much like Christmas, and it's not even Halloween yet!

Hopefully we'll have a break from the snow for awhile. I guess I could handle it now if I knew it wouldn't last until April!!

Happy Anniversary!

Jay and I got married three years ago today! It doesn't seem like that long, although our lives have obviously changed quite a bit since October 21st, 2006!

We had a great wedding, the weather was a little chilly, but otherwise a great day shared with family and friends! I spent our first anniversary in bed with a migraine and morning sickness. Our second was the day after my Grandpa's funeral, so we weren't feeling much like celebrating. This year I'm feeling decent, so that helps! Not sure if we'll do anything tonight to celebrate (free pie??), but we did go out to dinner and a movie on Saturday night, kid-free. Thanks to my parents to coming over to hang out with Mara so we could get away. It was very nice!

Happy Anniversary Jay! Thanks for putting up with me! ;)

One Year Ago

Me (9 months) and my sister Michelle with Grandma Angie and Grandpa Lloyd - July 4, 1980.


Four Generations - Grandma Angie, Grandpa Lloyd, Barb (my mom) Maralyn, and me - June 8, 2008


Mara and her Great-Grandpa Lloyd - September 2008


It was a year ago today that my grandpa Lloyd passed away. He is so missed! His sense of humor and love for his family are something that I'll never forget.

I'm so glad he was able to meet Mara and spend time with her, even if it was just for a few months. I'm very sad that he didn't get to see her grow up and change - she is such a different little person already now than she was a year ago! I'm also sad he won't be able to meet our little baby coming in March.

But, I'm grateful for the time that we all had with him, and we have memories and photos to remind us of the great times! We miss you, Grandpa!

There's a Baby in There!

On Tuesday, we went for our anatomy ultrasound! It's hard to believe I am already to that point in the pregnancy! I am 20 weeks along, halfway there!

The ultrasound went GREAT! Everything looks perfect!! We were so excited to see the baby and hear that things looked so good. It is such a relief to know that things are growing and developing like they should be!

We opted not to find out the sex again this time. I think Jay could have been swayed to find out, but I love the surprise when the baby is born. There is no other surprise quite like it!

Baby cooperated well for the measuring, and we got some pretty good pictures, so we were happy! It weighs 10 oz right now, and measured just one day off from my due date (March 4th).

It's amazing how you can tell a difference from baby to baby...this baby was definitely NOT Mara. I know that's obvious, but it's weird how you can pick that up just from an ultrasound. I'm excited to meet the new baby and see what kind of personality he or she will have!

Only 20 weeks (ok, maybe more like 21 or 22!) to go!