Baby, Baby

Now that the holidays are over, we're creeping closer to becoming a family of four.  The belly (along with everything else!) continues to grow and the number on the scale continues to rise.  It really is a blessing and a curse to be pregnant over both Thanksgiving and Christmas!

22 weeks



24 weeks



28 weeks



30 weeks



32 weeks



We finally purchased a dresser for baby's room and spent our New Year's Day morning assembling it.  Big brother was especially helpful in that he sat in the chair and colored and played puzzles on the iPad.  I feel like we can now start organizing the room - 8 weeks might be here before we know it!



Ikea dressers have nothing on us!



Christmas Wrap-up

My camera finally came out of hiding during the month of December and this post is proof.  Here is our month in a nutshell.

I'll start by saying that this Christmas was by far the most fun with Colin.  He understood so much more and was definitely excited to celebrate.  We kicked off the season with our 2nd annual Holiday Lights parade.  Unfortunately, the photos from that night didn't turn out.  Just trust me that the three of us had fun looking at the floats and eating ridiculous amounts of Tootsie Rolls.

Up next was a visit to Santa.  What a difference a year makes!  Colin was pumped to sit on Santa's lap and rattle off what was on his Christmas wish list.  I think he was just as excited about donating the "green noodles" (Herb & Cheese Pasta Roni) though. :) 



"I want a Super Why skateboard & a Buzz Lightyear airplane."



Perhaps the highlight of the month for John and I was Colin's daycare Christmas program.  The preschool class sang "Away in a Manager", "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", and "All I Want for Christmas".  We were so proud of him - he really did a great job!

Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Loppy came one Saturday to celebrate Christmas with us.  We enjoyed a leisurely afternoon by the fire and Colin was spoiled with treats, clothes, jammies, and a toy cash register.  He now requires us to pay him for sandwiches, fruit and pizza that he makes!  

This is the new equipment requirement when playing hockey downstairs:
Chest pads, helmet, and "hockey gloves".

We traveled to Tracy a few days before Christmas and spent the holiday with Grandma and Grandpa Rau.  The weather was pretty chilly so we spent a lot of time playing piano, cars, tennis, and foosball downstairs.  We did manage to get a few sled runs in across the street.

Colin helped leave a few cookies and a glass of milk for Santa before church on Christmas Eve.  He couldn't believe it when we came home and there were only crumbs left on the plate and a plump stocking hanging by the chimney!  His hat and coat didn't even come off - he dug right in to his stocking to find a Thomas toothbrush, book, lacing cards, and treats.



"Buzz Lightyear to the rescue!"



Santa brought the "Super Why" skateboard - thanks to Uncle Andy.
He made stickers (which you can't see here) to transform it.

Each of us was spoiled over the last month and we're so thankful for the time spent together as a family.  Merry Christmas and Happy 2013! 

Merry Christmas!

If at first you don't succeed...

...try, try, and try again!



M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

Here are the obligatory pumpkin carving photos.  Colin really enjoyed digging out the guts again this year, but we made the mistake of having a Halloween movie on in the background.  Most of the carving time was spent trying to persuade him to help! 

This little preschooler was SO EXCITED to dress up as Mickey Mouse.  Hopefully someday he'll appreciate how much his mother let her style preferences go to the wayside with those yellow Crocs!



We had a pizza party at Mike and Karina's prior to trick-or-treating.  This is the best group photo we could get.  There was no time to sit and take pictures - there was candy to get!

 



L to R: Sloane, Will, Mauer, Jackson (in kettle), Colin, Charlie



We covered 4 blocks and the kids' buckets were overflowing with candy.  The three of us closed out the night by driving up to visit uncle Andy and auntie Susan.  It was a great night and so fun to see Colin finally "get" trick-or-treating!

Turning point

Here we are!  Over halfway done baking this baby!  20 weeks has been a turning point for my comfort level.  The belly seems to take up a lot more space all of a sudden and the round ligament pain and shortness of breath are in full force. 

My big ultrasound was a couple weeks ago and everything looked good.  Baby weighed in at 13 oz.  I personally don't enjoy viewing other people's ultrasound pictures but I wanted to post these to have for the future.  Feel free to close out this post and not look at any of them. :)



These babies were crossed THE WHOLE TIME.



A little creepy but pretty cool



Does this look like Colin?



A curiously good time

Colin's 3rd birthday party was a success!  The boy has been obsessed with Curious George, so who better to join us for a party?



Birthday boy



John built a sandbox for Colin's gift from us



Holt boys




Will supervising gift opening



He was so excited to blow out the candles!



The best family photo we could get



What a fun day celebrating our little monkey!

His actual birthday...he requested a picture with the giant pumpkin.