For Nancy...

Here you are, Nanc! Here's what I look like...for the moment! :-) I have never been good about taking pictures throughout my pregnancies -- and, when they're all over, always wish I had been! I had Ben take this on Christmas...so, here's what I look like at 30 weeks:

I'm quite sure I'm as big (ok, bigger) than I was at the END of Megan's pregnancy...so, I'm having a hard time imagining getting any bigger - and, I how can I not? I've got about 2 months left?! I'm definitely getting good at waddling! lolol! No...waaaahhh! :-(

Poor Ben has only a small piece of the bed to sleep in. I've taken up most of it with not only myself, but, pillows galore to help prop me up. I don't know why I bother -- they don't seem to help with heartburn or any other aches and pains! :-) I also end up spending all night adjusting them after a bathroom visit or a tums snack!

I'm excited to be having a baby...I'm very excited to meet our little boy...but, I will be VERY glad to get back to my non-waddling, non-heartburn, non-sciatic pain, non-bathroom-visit-every-10-minutes self!

LOTS of Christmas Pictures...and THREE videos!

We had a really nice Christmas yesterday. Megan was so fun to watch! She figured out the unwrapping thing pretty quickly. And, of course, my camera batteries would die on such a momentous occasion!! I thought I had a fully charged set...but, nope! All 3 sets were dead! So, unwrapping pictures had to wait for when Grandpa and Grandma P showed up. By then, my charger had rejuiced some of my batteries. Ugh!

I'd say Megan's favorite gift was an aquadoodle from daddy and mommy. She has hardly let that thing go! This morning has already found her with her pen in hand doodling away!

Megan also really likes a mini magnadoodle she got from her younger cousin (I think Megan may have artistic leanings!) :-) and a musical butterfly from Grandpa and Grandma P. Megan got MANY more gifts, but those 3 seem to be the ones she's most attracted to for now!

The only present picture I got...missed all the unwrapping! At least our video camera was working, so it's recorded somehow!

Megan sitting in her new princess saucer chair, drawing on her aquadoodle while drinking some milk:

Unwrapping a rocking horse from Grandpa and Grandma P... Megan wasn't too sure about it. He's resting in a nearby stable until she wants to ride it:


Lots of goodies!


A present from Riley:


Entertaining everyone...as you can see on video #2:

Busy drawing:

Grandma and Grandpa P and Megan:

A spinny light ball thingy from daddy and mommy:

The three *videos* are a progression of the day. Hope you enjoy them!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I hope you all enjoy spending time with your families today/tonight/tomorrow! Grandpa and Grandma P will be coming to our house tomorrow for Christmas lunch. And, we'll see Grandpa and Grandma W in a few weeks when they come for a visit.

We are reminded every year in the hustle and bustle and busyness to remember the REAL reason for Christmas! I hope you all take time to remember God's gift of His only begotten Son for YOU! I hope each of you have accepted the BEST gift of Christmas...our Savior!

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

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We were in a celebratory mood on Friday, so even though it made for a very long day, we went to Wendy's for supper and then drove around looking at Christmas lights. Megan was quite asleep - lol! - so didn't appreciate any of the lights!

Megan and daddy getting ready to leave:


Wendy's! Megan loves to eat their chicken nuggets and mandarin oranges:


She especially loves sharing with daddy! It makes her laugh and laugh when daddy eats her food!


Hehee! Daddy's eating all of my oranges!


Somebody's house...(lol!) We don't think it's anyone we know...?


Wishing you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Another ultrasound!

Baby looks great! Measuring right on! Approximate weight of 3 lbs, some odd ounces. Baby is folded right in half and had both hands AND feet in front of its face!! In fact, we were quite sure baby was sucking its toes at one point! :-)

Here are a few pictures - a profile, arm bent with fist up by mouth:


A straight on face view -- looks a lot like big sister Megan (minus pigtails!):


And, for what you all reeaaalllllly want to know:

Yep, baby finally cooperated! At the very last possible minute, I should add! I said, BOY! before the tech even stopped moving the ultrasound wand. All parts were quite obvious! I've often seen it referred to on message boards as the "turtle" picture...that's exactly what the ultrasound tech said when she froze the picture, "oh yeah, that's a turtle!"

So, Megan can look forward to a little brother! Although a surprise is very fun, I am relieved to finally find out! To keep some element of surprise, the name won't be revealed until birth day (also gives us time to change our minds - or for me to change Ben's mind! lolol)! :-) We are very excited to meet HIM! Now...off to buy some BLUE! because using big sister's pink things (at least in public) just won't do! :-)

O Christmas Tree!

We finally have our tree decorated. We've had it up for over 2 weeks...just sitting on top of our tv unadorned. We bought a small 4 1/2 foot pre-lit tree this year, because neither Ben nor I wanted to deal with the hassle of our HUGE tree - which means a rearranged living room and, to be honest, just too much work to put up and take down with baby preparations in the works. We're pleased with this little Charlie Brown tree! It's cute...and, up high enough that Megan can't rip things down! :-)


I took this the other day during Megan's nap. She has become quite attached to her little bunny security blanket in the last few weeks. Someone gave it to her as a baby gift, and we've always put it next to her whenever she sleeps. Megan started clinging to it when we picked her up from sleep times just a few weeks ago. Now it goes just about everywhere in the house with her. She loves to hug it and nuzzle its face. So far, she's not so attached that we can't leave the house without it...but, it MUST leave the crib with her in the morning and after naps! And, every few days, she wanders into her room and pulls her green afghan through the crib rails to snuggle with as well. I told Ben that at least her security blankies are pretty and cute... growing up, I knew a girl who carried a tattered blue windbreaker EVERYwhere. No, it wasn't me...and, I won't embarrass her if she's reading! :-)


Our little Megan really IS growing up! She's no longer a baby! Here she is, helping me dust yesterday. Megan followed me and dusted wherever I had just finished.


Grandpa and Grandma P visited us last night. Here's Megan listening to Grandma read her a story. (It's hard to get good pictures, Megan doesn't sit still for very long!)

Have a good day!

Making Cookies!

Megan helped mama make some cookies today for our friends. Noooo, mama didn't cheat and eat any! She didn't even snitch any of the chocolate chips, which is a given when you make cookies (although Megan thoroughly enjoyed a few chocolate morsels)! It was pretty torturous - especially taking warm cookies out of the oven - but mama survived!

Megan had so much fun playing with the measuring cups and spoons. It was her first time "helping" me bake. She is going to be a wonderful helper - and daddy hopes a GOOD cook! :-)

Snowstorm!

The snow has begun to fall this morning. The forecast is calling for 6-10" of snow by the time it's finished this evening. Good day to curl up and watch a favorite Christmas movie -- mine would be White Christmas or It's A Wonderful Life. Don't have it...but, I think Megan would rather watch the new Tigger and Pooh Christmas dvd that's out. She LOVES Tigger and Pooh.

Posting a *new video* of Megan playing her little piano. She was cracking us up, so Ben grabbed the camera and recorded her. Megan's turning into quite the ham!


Yesterday, Megan decided she wanted to play with her hat. It took her quite awhile to figure out how to get it on her head. We had a few frustrated tears and grunts...but, once she succeeded, she cheered and grinned and clapped and ran around the house. Then, Megan ripped the hat off of her head and began the cycle of tears and cheers again. She did this all day long. It was really funny to me!




Here's the most recent picture of our little nephew Micah. He's already changing so quickly!! (I just love those big pants!) :-) I updated my links on the side - but, Stacey has also set up a blog for those of you interested!

After being diagnosed with GD in Megan's pregnancy, I had to see a (diabetes?) doctor, educational nurse, and nutritionist. It filled over 2 days of appointments! I was dreading that this time and prayed that I'd only have to see the doctor to cut down on all that running around. On Tuesday, my OB called and said I didn't need to see anyone else this time! YAY!!! He said he felt I was responsible enough to keep track of my own blood sugars. So, I officially began recording them yesterday, although I began the diet Saturday. I know this first week is the hardest to switch over. At least this time, I remember what I did with Megan, so it's been a bit easier. Although, harder this time is meal consistency. I have to eat my 6 meals/snacks at the same time every day. That's a big part of keeping your blood sugar stable -- and, it's much more difficult to do when I'm doing something with Megan instead. Hoping and praying these last months go by as quickly as the first 8 months have... then, I want some CHOCOLATE!! :-)

Strike THREE!

I have been expecting a phone call from my OB's office all day today. It finally came late this afternoon...with news I already knew! I have GD (gestational diabetes) for my 3rd pregnancy. I tested my blood sugar on Friday, with 2 good numbers. Still, I decided to take my after lunch number which was very high...so, Ben took me to the hospital lab on Saturday morning to drink that nasty glucola stuff. So, I was pretty sure I'd failed the test...and, was just waiting for the official word.

Although I'm not a bit surprised, I can't help but be a bit disappointed. It'd be nice to have some aspect of my pregnancy be normal -- enjoying the last 10+ weeks to eat whatever I want! As it is, Ben took me to the grocery store after Saturday's test so we could stock up on chicken, broccoli, whole wheat bread, and many other healthier options for me to eat in the days ahead. I told Ben on the way home that he needed to go home and eat the package of double stuf'd oreos in the pantry right away so they won't be around to tempt me.

At least I enjoyed a carb-filled Thanksgiving....but, there is no sign of Christmas fudge in my future!! Any chocolate that Ben (or others) give me for Christmas, I shall pack in my hospital suitcase! lol! :-)

Megan's cold seems to have come back. Mostly the sniffles... she seems pretty happy in her attitude for now. Hopefully it will only last a couple of days.

Here are a few pictures for you - mama let Megan lick the cool whip spoon. Yumm!!


I put one of Megan's baby headbands on the other night. I took it off, because I thought it looked silly. Megan was NOT happy and wanted it ON her head! So, she sported the bow and ribbon during a recent visit from Grandpa and Grandma P. The next day, she found it on the floor and put it on all by herself. Here's the result! :-)


(Notice, one pigtail is still in place...lol!) What fashion sense!



Have a good night!

Our little artist!

I had a doctor's appointment today -- all good. My OB was kind enough to do another gender check... no success. The tech at my 20-week ultrasound said she was leaning 50% boy. My OB today said his guess was girl. Looks like we're exactly where we started!! LOL! Like Ben always says, "It's one or the other!" :-) My OB scheduled a "real" ultrasound in 2 weeks to check the baby's growth...so, we'll get another chance then. (*sigh* I really don't think we're going to find out until birth day!!)

Here's Megan's first attempt with a writing utensil (with a few doodles by mama):


Megan sat with us in the pew when we visited my parents' church a few weeks ago. This kept her occupied for awhile. For her first coloring/drawing attempt, I thought she did really well. Hehee... oh what a parent is proud of!! :-)