Merry Christmas!

We sure had a White Christmas!  Thank goodness we left on Tuesday night the 23rd, for it snowed another 3 inches Christmas Eve.  I am not sure what the totals are, but

 the snow banks are taller than me!  We had a wonderful time in Racine with the family!  Ellen sure is growing  quickly, and is a beautiful baby!  It was a real treat to have a baby around for Christmas.  They are so peaceful, and it is hard to imagine that Christ came as a humble, helpless babe.  His Father, full well knowing that he loved Him much more, gave him into the arms of humans to take care of Him.  God loves us that much that he gave us that kind of gift--it is truly hard for me to fathom.

While at the Noelke's, it was nice to relax, eat too much, have great conversations, watch ND beat Hawaii, and play games!  Madi got a special gift, which you can see here, right after she opened it!  It didn't take long for her to unform the candy cane and chew through the ends.  

We saw the Benjamin Button movie and Marely and Me over the break.  I don't know if I have ever cried as hard as I did watching Marley and Me.  If you are a dog lover, you HAVE to see the movie!  

Now, PJ and I are setting up the nursery!  Once it is completed I will post some pictures!  We also start our classes on Tuesday.  A 6 week class through the Hospital, and then I will take a cloth diapering 101 class.  Hope you are all refreshed from the break, overfed, and wishing you a very Happy New Year!  

Baby Butts

How could I forget about Friday!  OOps!  Well, from Thurday night to Friday morning we got about 7 inches on snow in Madison.  I was supposed to have a doctor's appt in the am., but they rescheduled it to the afternoon.  I went to the appt., and this was my glucose test.  You drink a really sweet orange glucose drink, and then get your blood drawn 1 hr. from the completion of the drink-fun!  Baby kicked as soon as the needle went it--baby really cares about me and doesn't like it when I get pricked!  

Then I finally got into the doctor about an hour and a half after my appt. time!  Baby's heartbeat is about 140 and she could feel baby now, and the head is toward my pelvis, and I told her that baby gets into these positions where a protrusion comes out of my belly and she says that is where the baby's butt is and envisons that it is stretching out!  Oh how cute--baby's butts are so adorable! eheh.  So we are 30 weeks today, and the books say that baby is 17 inches and about 3 lbs!

Advent

This was a pretty big weekend in baby's world--we bought the crib mattress, a wool mattress pad and a cotton mattress pad, and crib sheets.  We bought all organic products for the crib from Satara--and are really excited about them!  I also sewed the bed skirt this weekend--I love weekend projects.  

We are 30 weeks tomorrow, which means 10 to go--I honestly can't believe it is almost here.  PJ asked me last night what color eyes and hair I think baby will have--my obvious guess??  Blue and Blonde!  We shall see though.  

This time of year makes me so giddy.  At Sunday school the first day of Advent, we made a chain link to count down the days of Advent.  I loved it so much that I took one home to make too.  I have been reading them to baby and Madi each morning, and each day has either a new bible  verse, a Christmas song, or an activity to do.  It has really gotten me into the Christmas spirit in such a new refreshing way.  Last year I got an Advent Calendar for Madi and behind each door was a bone, but this was no where to be found at Target this year:(  We get to spend  Christmas in Racine this year, and it will be so fun with baby Ellen there making the Christmas magic alive.  Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas with your loved ones!  And stay warm, it is -30 today here in Madison, happy 1st day of winter!heheh

Baby's Shower!

Saturday was Baby's shower in MN.  Laura Olin and Katie Mooty outdid themselves and threw an amazing shower--they thought of everything!  I am so richly blessed with amazing friends and family.  It started with some catching up, then we had a great brunch, and then played games galore!  Oh I LOVE games!  Then we opened gifts and were able to talk, and then it was wrapped up with everyone getting to choose an ornament from the tree!  I have many cherished memories with all the special people that were able to attend, we missed those who couldn't be there!  We got so many wonderful gifts-everyone is so generous.  Baby, you have a LOT of people that love you.  When I got home last night, PJ was shocked by all the gifts!  It was so fun putting everything away, I stood in front of the closet almost in disbelief that a baby will be here soon wearing those adorable outfits (they are SO small!)--now we just need to set up the crib.

Baby is getting quite big in there!  It is really moving now and does some serious shifting--I know I am going to miss these times feeling baby move in there--so I 

ponder on the moments thinking what baby is doing in there, and what it looks like--and hope it is having fun!  

It was so nice to be home though.  I hadn't been home since August.  My Mom and I got to spend a lot of quality time together, looking through my baby book, and comparing how I look now to how my mom looked pregnant wih me!  The next time I see her will more than likely be when baby is here!  I also learned the basics of knitting from a very patient teacher--thank you Laura!

It is hard to belive that Christmas is just around the corner--March will be here before we know it!

Thanksgiving

We are back from California visiting family for Thanksgiving.  Trips like this are so hard because you look so forward to seeing everyone, and before you know it the trip is over.  On Tuesday, we got into L.A. and were able to spend time with Emily and prepare for an "Open House" of sorts where much of my Dad's family came over for dinner, family time and games.  Apples to Apples is my favorite, and gets pretty interesting with a group that big!  But Ally and I proved that no matter how far apart we are, we still know each other as well as ever and have the same sense of humor--we guessed each others cards instinctively!  Wednesday the rain held up long enough for the boys to get 10 holes in while the girls got to take a look at the Wedding site '09.  Oh how lovely it is!  Everything is perfect for Emily--just her style.  We also got to take a look at the Flower Market:beautiful!  Then we were all off to Laguna to our hotel.  Here we met up with my mom, Pepper, and then my my mothers' side of the family.  Uncle Mel and his wife treated us to a lovely dinner!  PJ and I, not really adjusted to the time change woke up very early each morning.  Thanksgiving Day was a bit overcast, and we took a walk to the beach--there is something about the Ocean, makes you feel that you are at the edge of the world as PJ puts it!  We got back just as the down pour started, but by the time the tee times came around, it was clear and sunny; perfect as much of the crowds stayed away.  There we 20 some of us for dinner in a private room, and my mom had planned a surprise impromtu baby shower with the family, which was very neat as I hardly get to see them all.  Dinner was great and then was wrapped up with family VHS videos...oh boy!  Friday the boys golfed again, and the rest of us grabbed brunch on the ocean, it was spectacular.  Then we all walked to the beach and watched the tide come in and the waves pick up--humbling beauty.  We had more family games, and then were headed back to Pasadena where PJ and I were able to eat dinner on our own on Colorado Blvd (where the Rose Parade goes) and window shop!  Baby's first trip to California was great.  Everyone got to feel much movement and it was all of their first time seeing me pregnant; what a joy!  We sure did miss our little Madi!

First Visit

On Saturday, PJ and I were able to meet our niece Ellen!  She was laying on the couch when we arrived, and we instantly were in love.  Having this precious, innocent, miracle in our arms was an incredibly humbling experience.  Nothing else mattered--and it seemed that time stopped while we were there-not a care in the world for me.  Lynne and Todd are so good with her, and was great to be able to see.  She is so tiny, so dependent on her parents and I was in owe that all of us enter the world this way.  It made us so excited to meet our little angel baby!  Sunday, PJ and I embarked on the task of consolidating to one closet so the baby has a closet, and it is really nice to have that done!  We have a set of onesies, and a ducky robe and slippers hanging in the closet so far.  We also have 2 handmade blankets made for PJ and his sister as well as the outfit that PJ and Lynne came home from the hospital in, so tiny!  Today was our 25 weeks Dr. appt, and everything is normal!  Baby's heartbeat was 150, and I just love hearing it.  They gave me a copy of all my medical records so that we will have everything we may need while on our trip to California.  We leave a week from yesterday, and I honestly can't wait!

New Arrival!

Ellen Katherine Cassidy was born just a couple of hours ago!  See her picture below--she is adorable!

11/11

Because we are pregnant again--and past 12 weeks, I haven't thought much about the  miscarriage(except the added worrying that something might happen again, and how neat it will be to see that baby someday in heaven)--until last night.  Today, 11/11, was the due date.  My sister and I talked about how neat that date was!  Well, here we are.  I had so many questions of why God let us get pregnant for it to end in miscarriage--and especially when Lynne, PJ's sister was due about the same time.  I think we may have our answer.  Lynne's water broke last night, and may have Ellen Katherine on 11/11.  Now we will never know when, if we carried to term, that baby would have come--but that sure would have been crazy!  I clung to two verses during that time that I read over and over: Philipians 4:8-9 &13 and Psalm 62:6-8, and as I re-read these tonight, I see how when in despair we cling to our rock and salvation-for he gives us strength & boy does he ever for I would not have been able to go through that alone.  The Lord does work in mysterious ways.  We wouldn't be pregnant with this gift had we still been pregnant with the first--so I am thankful everyday for this pregnancy and all the wonderful moments it brings.  

I pray for Lynne and he labor tongiht , and can't wait for the news that little Ellen has entered the world and is in the loving arms of her parents!

Surprise! Happy Birthday!

Oh, this weekend was so fun!  It was Carolyn and Marcy's, my mother-in-law and their best family friend, surprise Birthday dinner.  The six "kids" showed up to the restaurant early and then the 2 couples came.  The moms thought it was a romantic dinner for four by the lake, and to their surprise---it was for 10!  We had a wonderful time of laughter and fun!  Then the women beat the men in Pictionary--a family tradition!  Today (sunday), we had a nice breakfast, and both Paul and Carolyn got to feel baby kick.  They were surprised at how much baby really does move!  I can't wait for our trip to California so that my mom, sis, and dad-and the rest of the family-can feel baby too, and see the baby bump!

Friday was Halloween, so instead a Friday night fish fry, PJ and I went on a date on Thursday night.  It was so wonderful, and we promised to not talk about anything baby.  It was very nice to catch up in this way--we had so much fun!  We are going to try to make this a tradition.

Friday was fun handing out candy to the cute little trick-or-treators!  Two little kids came up, and looked about the same age.  I asked if they were twins, and the woman answered, no they are cousins 6 months apart.  I got a huge smile I am sure, as I could picture Ellen, and our baby, cousins--4 months apart, they will have such fond memories. 

21 weeks

We had another 4 week check up today (21 weeks), and oh the joys of waiting.  The receptionist came out to all of us waiting asking which Dr. we were seeing.  All of us were seeing the same one....she let us know the Doctor was about 30-40 mins behind schedule.  Well, considering there were 6 of us, I knew that wasn't true!  So I asked if I could run an errand and be back--so I picked up Madi's dog food, and got a knitted pair of booties that I have had my eye on but the store is only open Thurs. -Sun.  And got back to the doctors office just in time for them to call my name, and then I got to sit in another room for 20 mins!  Haha. Well, everything is great.  Ultrasound is normal (baby's weight is great, enough fluid, heartbeat of 150, has all its limbs and the placenta is healthy).  My wt. gain is right on target for where I am supposed to be to, 11 lbs. to date!  Today was the first time that I had my belly measured too--the fondus is right on track for 21 weeks--so all is swell!  I learned a new phrase from a friend in New Zealand..."up the huff"= pregnant!

"Pop"

Everyone has said that all of a sudden one day your belly "pops" when you are pregnant, and that happened Friday and Saturday.  My belly is definately looking different, and I have the baby bump now!  We had an exciting weekend.  I was baptized on Friday night with 16 other adults.  It was the first time I have been baptized and it was an incredible experience.  It was an emersion baptism, which really implants the experience into your mind!  Then we went to Racine for the weekend to be with the Noelke's.  Lynne's baby shower was on Sunday, and it was so darling.  The decor was pink and brown, like Ellen's nursery is decorated, and the gifts were all so darling!  Many of the women who attended the shower are gifted in the crafting department, and the homemade cards and gifts were adorable.  Lynne looks incredible for being due in a couple of weeks!  

The Kicks

What an exciting weekend!  Saturday we went shopping for maternity clothes.  Hmm, the selection in Madison is not great, so figured out my size and got a few things from Gap maternity (thanks Lynne for letting me know about this!)  PJ says these clothes make me look more pregnant that my normal clothes--they are tighter in the belly region.  We shall see how much longer I will be able to button my jeans!  Also on Saturday my Mozart Effect CD's arrive for "mums and mums to be!"  Trying to stimulate right brained synapses in our growing baby!  Tonight PJ and I went to see a movie and the baby was really active, so I took PJ's hand and placed it on the spot where baby was kicking, and PJ felt it twice--oh it was so fun! 

Ultrasound!

Oh today was so exciting! Our nurse was so wonderful!  I told her that we did not want to know the sex, and she said, we can take care of that!  We saw so many pictures! After a few looks, I still didn't see the fluttering, and asked where is the heartbeat, and then she went to it, and it was so amazing to see!  Then we saw the head, the heart better (a heart beat of 147 and 4 ventircles visable!), the kidneys, the stomach, the umbilical cord (a three vessel one which I guess is good!), the arms and legs, the spine and ribs, the lips nose, and eyes, you could see it all.  Then when we got to the abdomen and the femur(upper leg), she had us look away so that we wouldn't be able to tell the sex! It was so exciting. PJ kept looking-he wants to know! But he couldn't tell what was what anyways, so he had no idea what to look for.  He asked her what it was, and she had a great poker face!  No telling.  I can't even explain the awe that the situation presented.  What a miracle to see this baby growing inside.  It was moving so much, she kept trying to chase it as she said.  It weights about 12oz now, which absolutely surprised me!   Based on that and some measurements, we are about 19 weeks 4 days she says, we thought we were 19 weeks today, so a tiny bit further along.  I have the pics of our baby's first photo shoot at the bottom of this page.  The first is so clear! The black spot is the stomach, and the bony things are the ribs, and as you can see the mouth is open, and you can see the nose! The second is similar.  The third you can see the hands near the face!  The fourth shows the heart really well with the 4 ventricles.

Enjoy! 

Much to be greatful for

We had another 4 week check up today(we are 17 weeks--this changes each Tuesday for any that don't know), and all is very well!  Baby's heartbeat was 150 bpm, and we could even hear it moving!  I am back to the weight that I was before we got pregnant, so she was very glad to see that.

Much excitement has gone on for baby to hear.  My sister got engaged on Thursday 9/18 to Nathan.  He had asked for my dad's blessing the day before, and then proposed at Anandale Golf Couse on the 16th (most beautiful) hole!  They will wed July 2009.  

Also, I will be baptized at Church on Friday, October 17th--I am so excited about this, and think it will be wonderful to share with baby!

Football

I love fall!  We have football--the Badgers and the Pack are undefeated!--, sweater weather, changing leaves--so beautiful!  This brings apple picking, pumpkin carving, and lots of baking, I am so excited!  

Well, this weekend baby Noelke and baby Cassidy(my sister and brother-in-law's baby-to-be) went to their first Notre Dame game.  First of many I am sure.  Lynne is due in 8 weeks, it was so fun to see her progress!  The game was a blast.  We left Chicago in a complete down pour, and got to  Indiana for the game thinking it was a sure bet to be raining the entire time.  Well, the start of the game was 77 degrees!  After half time, the down pour came, and the fans were cheering on the sheeting rain!  It was a blast.  It was a warm, tropical rain--PJ and I joked it felt like we were taking a shower.  

My days have had their ups and downs.  I still have moments where I feel that something will happen again--fears of the last time.  I do have many nights where I wake up at 2, 3 or 4 am, and can't sleep.  I told my dad that it is sometimes nice, I use this time to talk to God.  I am finding out how to  be still and know that He is there.  It refreshes me, and then I just think of how wonderful it will be to see our baby, and I know this experience has taught me to never take a single second for granted.  

Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God."

Breakfast!

So, those of you who know my eating habits (probably most of you since I am so routine!) will appreciate this post!  I was able to eat my usual breakfast this morning!  An egg (sunny side up) on an english muffin with ham!  This has been the first morning since about week six that I have been able to eat real food in the morning.  My supplement has been a protein shake in the morning which is the only thing that would stay down.  It was an exciting morning-so I wanted to share it.  

As for baby--on my way home yesterday over lunch break to go play with Madi, I was at a stoplight and felt a flutter!  Maybe a bit early, but it was not shifting of gas!  I will let you know the next time I feel baby and if it feels the same!

It's Really happening!

Watching the new State Farm commercial yesterday, I found myself crying tears of joy!  This is the one where the dad is holding new baby in the hospital.  It hit me-it's really happening for us!

There are a few books that I love so far: What to expect when expecting, Secrets of the baby whisperer, i'm pregnant, now what do I eat?, and The Expectant Father.   Still having bouts of morning sickness--mostly because of the changing schedules--three weddings in three weeeknds--they were all so lovely, and all had wonderful weather.  It was so great to catch up with friends--and they say the baby can hear, so fun!  All is well with us, how are you?

13 weeks!

We had a doctor's appointment yesterday, and all is very well.  The doctor used the doppler and we heard baby's heartbeat.  It was 160 bpm, very strong she said!  I was so nervous going into the appointment, so many memories, but once I heard the heartbeat, I just about cried!  Everything is ok!  As I reflect on what has transpired the last few months I stand in awe at how incredibly blessed we are.  Thank you to those of you I leaned so hard against from the very beinning, you helped me through.  I am almost past the neasea and can keep food down now.  The crazy dreams are still around, though not quite as vivid!  Keep us in your prayers, you are in ours!