Merry Christmas to all....

...and to all a good night.

Christmas with our new baby was nice. We visited my aunt's house on Christmas Eve and visited the Groff's and my parents on Christmas day. She LOVED Mrs. Groff!.... She slept the entire "Eve" at my aunt's and was a bit fussy on the "Day," I'm guessing we've been doing too much partying out of her element and messing up her routine. She did well though and was loved by all. She dressed as a santa baby and I said she dressed up to bring "joy and happiness" to all the people. I think she did her job well. (As babies are good at bringing joy and happiness to all...I'm not trying to be partial here people!)

I hope you and yours had a wonderful holiday and have a wonderful, blessed new year!

An angel is born.

On November 27, 2006, Cailen was born. She has strawberry blonde hair and for now at least, blue eyes. Her favorite past times include nursing, dreaming about nursing, eating her hands, having all night slumber parties with mommy, pooping, hiccuping, staring at her daddy, and sporting her entire new wardrobe in one day. Though she does sleep for 30 min - 2 hour increments during the night, she keeps mommy awake even when she's sleeping because mommy just can't stop beholding the beauty of her little face. She's such a blessing and she is so amazing. I can't believe she is here. I love her so much. If you haven't met her yet, I hope you will be able to soon. :)

Belly update.

Some days I feel like I don't look THAT pregnant... others I realize just how large my stomach has gotten. The problem is that I have been around the weight that I am right now, once before in my life. So it's not that unusual for me to sit down and see a couple belly rolls, but this belly is now larger than others in the past and it's much more firm. I think this past size that I used to be might make it seem like I have gained very little for anyone who was used to my size before my jogging last summer. According to my Dr. visit on friday, I am now up to a 20 lb weight gain. I've now got 5 1/2 weeks to go, so I guess ultimately now that I haven't gotten sick for a month, I am finally on schedule for weight gain. The first picture here is my first real pregnancy photoa at 6 weeks... yes, I look awkward. (The other was taken Sept. 30th) It's hard to pose for a pregnancy belly when there's not much there. Looking back, I can't believe how much of a belly was NOT there... It makes me glad I jogged all last summer and it will hopefully keep me inspired to get out there next summer. Right now, I'm lucky if I can get myself off of the couch without assistance....Jogging seems worlds away....

My Shower

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Sunday was my eagerly, anticipated baby shower! I was blessed to have many wonderful friends and family gather around me to celebrate the quickly approaching arrival of my little baby. I was also blessed to come home with a station wagon full of wonderful gifts to pamper our baby with.

Not only did we receive presents from those who were there, but we were amazed by some gifts that showed up from people who couldn't be there... Namely, Charlene who sent a very large and heavy box full of fun and nice things all the way from Rochester! (you rock Charlene)... she sent a scrapbook, a bunny, pj's, lots of kids books, and teething toys, and a box dedicated to... I think Kris? from perhaps her husband Chris?... The box was a diaper changing survival kit, complete with diapers, wipes, air freshener, small garbage bags, GLOVES, clothes pins (to use as nose plugs I presume), and a book called THE POO BOMB. Written by a father about all of the unexpected things he's encountered as a new dad. Kris has already had a ton of laughs reading this book.

We also got a little bit of everything: clothes, stuffed animals and toys, books, bath time gear, bedding, bottle warmers, a pack and play, money for a video camera,.... etc. I don't know how much people who go to showers as a spectator enjoy the events... usually you are forced into playing games that make you feel awkward (here people had to taste test baby food and guess the flavors--as you can see, Kris showed up a bit too early and had to taste too!) but I know for me it was a great time and I really was overjoyed and grateful for everyone who came, everyone who couldn't be there but sent their regards/gifts, and for everything that I have gotten to sit on my living room floor and sort out while dreaming of soon using all of these cute little items with my new baby...

*sigh*

what will she look like in all these outfits?.... how soon will she grow into them or out of them?... how long will these 7 packs of newborns diapers last? ...( maybe a week? *grin*) Was the ultrasound doctor correct in saying she was a girl? (we only have about 2 gender neutral items of clothing....) Everything around us is now pink, which is great..... as long as she's not a HE. Anyway, thank you all for coming and sending your love and gifts... our baby will be blessed to know you all. I can't wait for you all to meet HER.... *please be a HER*Please by a HER* Please be a HER*....

The shower was put on by my mom and Felice and they did a wonderful job. Thanks SOOOO much!! I know it's a lot of hard work.

It's Fall....yeah!

PHOTOS WITH PRODUCE... we considered taking some photos with spinach too but we weren't sure what sense that would make...






This weekend was fun. I had our friend/my brother's friend Kirsten over friday through sunday and since we actually had nice weather we made a day of saturday.... Our morning began with apple picking at Indian Ladder Farms. We bought a 1/2 bushel of huge apples... they were mostly grapefruit sized apples.... and the 1/2 bushel was over flowing by the time we left... when we got home, Kirsten, my brother and I made 3 apple pies and we barely put a dent in the bag of apples!.... I'm going to be making apple things for a long time... So my brother took a bunch of belly shots for me while we were out apple picking and since I'm tired of my generic pregnancy pose, I started acting like a dork... I don't know why I kissed the apple, I was just trying to look... sassy....? And by the way, doesn't my brother look like an albino giraffe eating that apple from the radioactive dead tree? *hehe*

So we also cruised by Thatcher Park since apparently my locally residing brother has never (?) been there.... so we did a mild upper level "hike" from the cliff lookout to the bathrooms... (for me of course.) Took some pictures there (at the lookout, not at the bathrooms...)... and then we finally met up with Kris who had to work and then we went to the Pumpkin Patch together. We got apple cider donuts... cruised the maize maze.... took the hay ride, took some wacky pictures... picked some pumpkins and made a pumpkin display for my next belly photo shoot. It seems that while I am sitting with the pumpkins I look a bit more round than I do while standing up. But what can I expect at 33 weeks...?
As some of you know, fall is my favorite season, so you might guess this was a fun day for me.