8 Month Belly

I'm posting a week late but this picture was taken last Sunday when I was exactly one month from my due date! In the last few weeks, I will have to admit that I've become more uncomfortable. I'm having lots of cramps and starting to feel lots of pressure. People keep asking me if I think the baby is coming early--my gut instict is that it will be the week of my due date (before or after!) At my apointment on Tuesday I was 2 cm, but that really doesn't tell me much because I was the same with Kinnick.

I don't know when the baby is coming, but I do know:

• This baby feels like it is going to pop out of my stomach! I can feel his/her little feet and little bottom pushing in and out all the time.
• I've been SUPER emotional (Marc would probably say this is an understatement!) I've cried tears of pain, tears of joy, tears of frustration, tears of anger, tears of excitement, tears of exhaustion... basically I cry A LOT. (Just an example, yesterday I was changing the toilet paper and dropped a brand new roll in the toliet--I cried.)
• I've been completely overwhelemed when I think about our growing family and I've experienced times of amazing peace.
• I feel that after making it through the craziness of the Holidays, I've been able to achieve a lot more balance in my life. Granted, this will all change again, but I'll work through it!
• I am feeling very prepared at school... I have my next three weeks planned out with all of my materials prepared and organized. I have 7 weeks of maternity plans outlined with a lot of the materials already prepped. I've met with my sub a few times and she plans to join us for two 1/2 days next week.
• Home on the other hand, feels a bit more unprepared. Today included major cleaning of the upstairs. I still need to work downstairs, freeze a few meals, wash up some boy and girl baby stuff, clean the carseat, pack my suitcase... Marc keeps assuring me if we don't get it all done, the baby will be fine. We already have a gigantic box of diapers and a place for the baby to sleep, so I guess that covers the basics.
  

Boy or Girl? Marc and I both had the day off last Monday so we had a date day and picked out a "coming home" outfit and a baby book. Sadie keeps assuring me that the baby is a boy and I can have the boy outfit. However, the baby in her tummy is a girl, so she will take the girl outfit... I'm super excited to find out! Marc and I are both thinking boy, but maybe that's because we still don't have a girl's name.

My sister-in-law got me this new sling for my birthday. I'm very excited to use it with the new baby. Kinnick has been enjoying it so far. Sometimes when I'm working in the kitchen, he just wants to be right with me, so it works well.

Sadie loves to feel the baby kicking and to give her/him hugs and kisses!

Bishop's Chocoloate Pie

This recipe is for a pie that is one of Marc's favorites! His mom makes it often. I've had the recipe (in a Gorsch recipe book) since we got married, but I've never made one before. I always assumed that there was a little more to it, but it was actually very quick and easy--so much that I thought I needed to share it!

• 2 boxes chocolate instant pudding
• 2 cups milk
• 2 cups vanilla ice cream
• whipped topping
• graham cracker crust

Beat the pudding and milk together, add ice cream and beat well. Pour into a graham cracker crust (if you are using a store bought crust, you will probably have some left over filling) and top with whipped cream! Refrigerate and ENJOY!

PS--As you can see, Kinnick got his first taste of Bishop's pie and he's a big fan, just like his dad!

Sledding

We took the kids sledding with Kinnick's new sled. This was not only Kinnick's 1st time sledding, but Sadie's also. We played in the yard for awhile first then headed to one of Streator's big sledding hills.

Sadie liked pulling her brother in the sled.

Kinnick took three trips down the hill (we only took him 1/2 way up).

Sadie took about 5 trips down the hill. The snow was pretty packed down and slick, so she went pretty fast and loved it! Every time she would laugh and say "I like to go fast!"

When we got home, Kinnick and Marc went inside to make hot chocolate and I stayed out awhile longer with Sadie--I showed her how to make snow angels.

We also used her "Sno-Crayon" to write in the snow. She had a blast!

Tennessee Vacation

The week after Christmas we went to TN with my family. I was very excited about this vacation because I needed a chance to be away from my house (and school) to relax and enjoy my kids (and husband!) I was also thankful for this opportunity because we've come to the realization that traveling this summer will be even harder! On the way to TN we stopped at my sister Jessica's new house--we met up with Jason & Trista and my parents here. We had our family Christmas then continued on to TN.


These are some memorable moments from our trip:

• 16 plus hours in a PACKED car with the kids--they really did great (for the most part). We packed lots of fun new activities and of course lots of snacks!
• Watching the 4 cousins run around and play together... they were a bit crazy at times, but they had so much fun!
• Warmer Weather! It was great to not be freezing the moment we walked out the door--a nice change from IL weather!
• Lots of swimming and Jacuzzi baths
• Just before dinner on our first night Sadie decided to take a "drink" from a bottle of cinnamon. She set the bottle down and was choking for air. She cried for over an hour after this happened--it was pretty scary!
• Sadie loved sleeping in a big bed (twin size). She slept in my parents condo with Kassie several nights. One night her and Jadyn slept in our condo in the bedroom together. When I peeked in in the morning, they were in the same bed (I wish I had a picture!)
• Sadie and Jaren got matching laptop computers and they loved carrying them around and playing on them together--they're getting so big!
• Sadie had her first pony ride. The kids looked cute in their little riding helmets. During Sadie's ride, she let go and started to lift her hands up. I said "What are you doing? Hold on!" She started laughing and said "I was not holding on Mommy!" That's our little daredevil.
• Kinnick's 1st tooth popped up on our first day in TN.
• Lots of games with the kids... Uno Moo was a favorite, along with Slamwich (Jadyn's new game--super fun!) and adults... dominoes, Apples to Apples
• Marc and I went to the movie "Old Dogs" and laughed so hard through the entire movie--very funny!
• We spent New Year's Eve playing games and eating lots of good food...

Jadyn, Kinnick, Jaren, & Sadie in their matching p.j.'s

Kinnick enjoying his breakfast at Aunt Jessica's house

Jaren with his new "Don't Break the Ice Game"

Kinnick's new riding toy from Grandpa and Grandma--this was a big hit with him as well as Sadie & Kinnick!

Sadie wrapped in her new princess snuggie playing with her new laptop--she loved them both!

Kinnick slept in our bathroom and liked to come in bed with us in the morning to snuggle.

Sadie getting ready for her pony ride--she seemed a bit nervous at 1st, but was excited once the lady brought the ponies out.

Jaren & Sadie

What a Big girl!

Kinnick got to sit on the pony with Sadie at the end of her ride. When we left she said, "Mom, next time we ride ponies, I will let Kinnick ride with me because he will be a big boy!"

Sadie & Jaren working on their laptops

Sadie, Jadyn, & Jaren

Sadie loves to take pictures with my camera--she snapped this one of her dad!

My Aunt Jan and cousin Sarah from GA came for the week also. This is Sarah's little girl, Leslie-she is just a couple months older than Kinnick. We were playing games and they found their little chairs on the floor and were sitting together.

Aunt Trista bought special sodas--Sadie was a BIG fan!

Swimming in the pool

Both kids love going swimming--I think this summer will be very fun!

Sadie LOVED taking "coozi baths". I didn't get any pictures of them with Jadyn and Jaren, but they loved going in together!

Grandpa & Grandma Henry with Sadie & Kinnick right before we left...

This was right outside of our condo. Sadie still talks about staying in the condo and going on vacation. She had a great time. It was a very relaxing week!

Merry Christmas!

Finally... my Christmas post! We had an absolutely wonderful Christmas this year! Marc had to work the day after Christmas, so we weren't leaving for any travel until Saturday afternoon. Because of this, we got to spend ALL of Christmas in our p.j.'s at home. It was GREAT! We slept in, ate Grandma DePauw's cinnamon rolls, played with toys and games, made a big ham dinner, enjoyed a few visitors, and even got to relax when the kids were napping.

We started the morning by bringing Sadie upstairs (she didn't like me putting her blanket over her head while we walked through the living room!) We all piled on our bed and read the Christmas story and sang Happy Birthday to Jesus.

Kinnick was happier once he escaped his sister...

When we got downstairs, the kids got to check out their Santa presents first. Kinnick liked pushing around his big firetruck.

Sadie was pretty excited about her new talking babydoll--it came with a highchair, pack & play, stroller, and diaper bag. The baby tells you what it wants and responds when you put it into the right place. Kinnick decided to take the little bottle and hide it (he's notorious for this!) and the baby kept saying "I'm hungry, feed me!" and crying. We couldn't find the bottle, so we finally had to turn it off. (We did find it later inside of my china hutch.)

Sadie was thrilled that Santa left her this red cookie--she ate it while we were opening presents. She also enjoyed his note (confirming that he is indeed a Hawkeye fan) and picture.

Sadie helped me put the presents under the tree and she knew what every one's wrapping paper looked like. She was very excited to help sort the presents and couldn't wait to open! Kinnick had fun also, but he got very easily distracted.

Sadie was super excited about this golf set like her dad's. She immediately wanted to hang it up in the garage with her dad's clubs. They haven't got to play too much because she wants to do it outside. She had it out when her friends Carson & Megan came over, but she was very concerned that they were going to loose the golf balls. (I think she's just a bit particular about things!)

The kids opened their "Big" present last. It was a big trash bag with a sled for Kinnnick and a dress-up bin (with a few new outfits) for Sadie. Kinnick LOVED sitting in this sled--he was content to sit in it for much of the morning. Sadie was excited also and confident that her brother would love to share his sled.

We saved the stockings for last. Sadie was very pleased to find that Santa did not forget her "balls and candy"--this is what she has been requesting for weeks leading up to Christmas. The kids were excited for some bath foam and fizzies as well as matching cups.

We gave them their new ornaments last and added them to the tree:

Sadie got an "S" this year because she has learned how to spell her name and recognizes letter s anywhere we go. She said "S for Sadie!"

Kinnick got a football because he loves any type of balls. He loves to chase them, throw them, etc. It also has a picture from his 1-year old Hawkeye birthday party.

As the day went on, we got to enjoy many performances from our little cheese ball. This dress-up outfit and the wings were in her new dress up bin. She couldn't wait to put them on and run to get her microphone. She loves to sing and dance for us.

2009 was a wonderful Christmas for us! We feel truly blessed by our amazing little family. We're excited that it is growing and excited to see what this year has in store!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is probably one of the hardest holidays for me to be away from my family (Easter would be a very close 2nd!) I've always loved the special traditions that my parents had for us growing up. On Christmas Eve we always went to Christmas Eve service at our church followed by lots of junk food and games.

The last two years, we've chosen to stay home so we could do Christmas morning with our children and begin our own traditions (some that have been passed down!) We've made an effort to be with "family" here. This year one of our neighbors invived us over for dinner. We loaded the wagon with the two kids, food, and cookie plates. We stopped at two other neighbors on our way over to say Merry Christmas and deliver goodies! We had a GREAT time!

One tradition that we've started is letting our kids open 1 present on Christmas Eve. This present consists of Christmas p.j.'s and books:

Sadie had fun picking out cookies for Santa this year (this is the first time she's done this.) She picked three cookies, but she was really h0ping that Santa would save the red cookie for her to eat! She wanted Santa to have apple juice. I asked her if Santa would like one of her snowmen cups she replied "No, he's an adult mom, those cups are for little kids. I think Santa would like a Hawkeye cup because he likes the Hawkeyes!" (She actually did meet a Santa this year that told her he was a Hawkeye fan!)

I had to sneak a few pics of my sleeping babies on Christmas Eve: