Lets Recap, Shall We?

Let's back up to Christmas, or Christmas Eve I should say. Christmas Eve marked my 34th week and we started our morning with a routine check-up. That phrase makes it sound like something exciting happened... but alas no. It was truly only that... routine. I was back to measuring right on and they said "we'll see you again in 2 weeks." In the evening we had our Christmas Eve service which was packed out with almost 500 people there. It's always so fun to see every one's families all together and spend some time together as a church body remembering the birth of our Savior and praising Him for coming into our world to ultimately receive the punishment for all our sins--all so we can have a personal relationship with Him. That is such a wonderful truth to dwell on as we focused our time over the Holidays. After the service, we made the long trip (all 15 minutes) down to Nathan's mom's house for Christmas Eve dinner and a few presents. It seems inevitable that one of the nieces or nephews in Nathan's family gets some kind of music gift and typically Nathan ends up playing with it more than the kids do. Here is evidence that Nathan is completely entertained while our niece, Emma Fogde, just sits and looks at him.

Nathan playing with Emma's gift.

I do have video of this, but will have to upload it later.

Christmas Day we had a lazy morning (oh so wonderful after the busyness of Christmas musical etc. at church). We hung around our house and eventually opened a few presents we had gotten for each other. Nathan got me a really cute and comfy nightie and robe from motherhood maternity that is made for easy nursing during the wee hours of the morning :) He also got me some body spray and lotion--it was really special because the scent was what I started wearing the day we got married and whenever I wear that scent the smell brings back memories of our wedding. Aw :) I got Nathan 2 sweaters and a body spray that he had said he liked. After we opened our gifts, we spent the rest of the day at his dad's house hanging with the rest of the family.

Us in front of our Mantle

Let's fast-forward to New Years (aka Board family Christmas). New Years Eve we headed up to my parents. Our family had decided to do Christmas together over New Years. Typically my family eats Mexican food on Christmas Eve, but since a few of us were with our in-laws for Christmas, they waited and we all had our big Mexican meal on New Years Eve instead. After that we did our traditional gift exchange with our cousins--there were 17 of us total. It was, as always, super fun with lots of laughs and much envying. Just kidding, but there was a whole lot of stealing going on. Nathan and I ended up with a game called "The Last Word", a Starbucks gift card, and an Olive Garden gift card. After much conniving, we each managed to steal the gifts we wanted and have them frozen so no one else could steal them.

17 gifts for 17 people... let the fun begin.

I would say this is when everything was all said and done, but my brother had that drill stolen from him, so this was not the end. I think the whole process of picking gifts and stealing gifts lasted about an hour anda half.

New Years Day was the Board Family Christmas. We again took it easy for most of the morning as some of my family scurried around trying to finish wrapping gifts and such. We watched A LOT of football (good thing we all like it!). Then we got to some gift opening. Baby fogde received some very cute and very comfy things that I am sure she will enjoy! After the gift opening was finished, I'm hoping what we did next will turn into a new tradition. We had a "build your own Calzone" for dinner. We had all the makings for delicious calzones and we all made our own. There was supposed to be a contest, however, the process of transporting the calzones from put together station to the cook them station was quite rough. Consequently some of our calzones turned out looking very mangled... good thing that was not an indicator of how they tasted. It was tons of fun and I really hope we do it again in the future!

Emma decided to play us a little tune on the piano :)

The beginnings of Build Your Own Calzone...

whoever thought of this was a genius! (my mom)

Nathan's finished product turned out pretty well...

it didn't look quite as mangled as some others did (like mine).

He was very proud because he truly did it all by himself

including rolling out the dough and sealing it all up in the end.

Good Job Honey! Now you can make them at home :)

It's tricky to all eat together when there are 8 calzones to cook and only 1 oven so some people BBQ'd theirs. They were just as tasty with a bit of a BBQ flavor to them.

Preparing to enjoy all of the finished product.

Overall, we had such a wonderful time with both of our families enjoying the different traditions of each side. We were blessed to have it work in our schedules to be with both sides over the holidays. Here we are now into a new year, and we have very exciting things on the very near horizon!!

8 Weeks and Counting

I am now in my 32nd week (about halfway through, actually). I had my doctor appointment this past week where little Leah or Makaela seemed to be a little more on track. I only measured at 33 instead of like 57 or something :) So my due date is still February 4 which was a bit of a relief and a let down all at once :) I'd be lying if I said that part of me didn't want them to move my due date up, but that is such a trivial thing that it doesn't even matter. What matters is that she is healthy, and very active :) We've been very entertained by watching my belly morph around. It hasn't been so intense that we can see an elbow or foot come out and move across, but we can see some limb moving from one side to the other. Nathan usually just laughs and says "thats freaky." We've also been playing with her and feeling her various limbs trying to figure out what they might be. We are so thankful that she is healthy and that things are all going well. The doctor also said that she is head down which is a huge blessing, and we are praying that she will continue to stay in that position--although I'm also praying that God will allow me to know His sovereignty should any of that change.
I get to sleep in a sitting up position now which is just fantastic! (sarcasm added:)) It has been a bit of a struggle to even be able to sleep much less sleep well, but even a lack of sleep is so trivial compared to all of the potential problems pregnancy can present... so again I find myself trying not to grumble or complain about the aches and pains or the lack of sleep, because the Lord has been so gracious already through all of this that certainly these small things are nothing to complain about.
We are anxiously awaiting her arrival and get more and more excited as the days pass. It is crazy to think that in just 8 short weeks (ok like 4 short weeks and 4 really really really long weeks, I'm sure;)) she will be here! Our schedules are busy and we keep moving right along which is helpful, but she will be here before we even know it! We can't wait for what the Lord will continue to teach us through the next weeks and especially for what He will teach us as we learn how to be parents to this blessing of life He has given us. All Praise to Him!

Playtime

I feel like we are using our new dog as practice for our new baby on the way. Whenever we are home, we are always playing with her and we always seem to have the camera close by because she just does some hilarious things. On this particular night, I was playing with her as she was trying to catch my feet. It kindof reminded me of that arcade game with the alligators and the big hammar you used to smash their heads. The alligators would pop out and you had to try and hit their heads. With bella, you'd taunt her with your feet until she popped out and you had to try and get them away from her. We are having a ton of fun with her... most of the time :) I will say, we have to work on learning how to go outside to go to the bathroom even when its rainy. On Monday, the weather was cold and rainy, and she decided that she did not want to step on the wet grass so instead she did all her pottying inside. Needless to say, she spent much of the day in her kennel in trouble which is really sad because it was her half birthday :) Anyway... here's a video of us playing.

Bella the Boxer... and Christmas too :)

So big news to those of you who don't already know! We got a puppy. We thought we'd try out our parenting/child rearing or "puppy rearing" skills in preparation for little baby fogde to come. Not exactly...

We have wanted a dog for a long time but had decided we would wait. We started talking more seriously this fall about getting a dog, but again decided we would wait. Then the week before Thanksgiving, Nathan decided that he really really wanted a dog... so the search began. Our initial intent was to get a puppy from up by where my parents live, but after a little more searching we found a much better option. I think the Lord knew that having a brand new puppy plus a baby in 2 months would be a little (understatement of the century) too much. What we did find was a 5 1/2 month old puppy who is still a puppy but she is already partly trained and has such a natural good nature in her! We have added Bella the Boxer to our family. She is so very cute, and she has been great so far! We have had to work on a few things, but she is catching on quickly. We haven't had an accident in the house in several days now, and she will go by the back door and give a little whine when she needs to go outside... YAY!! She also only seems to enjoy chewing on things that are fuzzy... so shoes are not her first choice (unless they are my slippers) :). But we don't have many fuzzy things in our house (yet at least) so chewing hasn't been a problem... YAY!! She enjoys jumping up, but she is learning that she cannot jump on people and she is definitely learning she cannot jump up at the kitchen counter to check out the goods. She has learned that one the hard way. She loves to play and be roudy, but she settles down so fast and is very calm. We just love her! We're so excited that our little girl will be able to grow up with Bella... we think it will be fun for them to grow together :)

Now, Christmas is just right around the corner, or so it seems as everything with church musicals etc. is kicking into high gear! We did a little decorating of our own at our house this year which we very much enjoyed. We even indulged ourselves and bought a Christmas Tree. Our very first one (how cute :)). Bella was a good sport, and she even let us decorate her and she wishes everyone a Very Merry Christmas.

This is Bella :)

This is Bella's version of Rudolph.

She's such a good sport!

Beginning the Decorating

We have a real mantle!!

Nathan working hard on the tree. I have to admit that he did most of the work because by the time we got to this point, I had been on my feet for quite a while and I just needed to take a break. He did a great job though!

Finished product and proud of it!

Showing off my excuse for supervising:)

Testing out the new timing on the new camera

Feeling Good

Well, it has been a while since i've updated (as usual) but here we go. I had my next doctor appointment today and can I just say no matter how hard I tried, I was so anxious about it. I had my glucose tolerance test last week... the results of which I was to find out today. I also "gained too much weight" last time, so I was very anxious about my weigh-in (I felt like I was on biggest loser or something). But, after much un-needed worrying, I found out that all my glucose screening came back fine, and I gained no weight from my last appointment. WOHOO!!! Now... the next thing to look forward to was where the baby was measuring. At my 25 week appointment, she was measuring around 27 weeks. This week marked my 29th week, and she is measuring in at a whopping 32 weeks instead. So... a february due date is looking less and less likely. I'm thinking we'll be adding another January baby to the family. We shall see...

It's crazy to think that I'm only 11 weeks away now (or maybe less). At my next doctor appointment, they should decide wither or not they are going to do an ultrasound to gain some more accurate measurements and see if she really is measuring big. I can definitely tell she has grown... I feel her move all the time. And I mean all the time... morning, afternoon, and night. Sometimes in the morning, Nathan will have his hand on my stomach, and he just lays in bed and laughs. It's been so fun... although as she starts to pack more of a punch/kick, i'm sure it wont be as fun when those punches and kicks are directed toward my ribs.

I have been so blessed to have such an "easy" pregnancy. I've been able to stay very mobile (even though the mobility is starting to become more uncomfortable), and I've managed to avoid most sickness all together. I did come down with a cold a few weeks ago, and when I was feeling so miserable, I realized how much I had taken for granted the ease of this pregnancy so far. I am so thankful to have continued to work (as its been available) and teach piano lessons. The Lord has definitely gone far beyond blessing me during this time. I'd even say its been fun. SHHHHH Don't tell anyone that :)

More updates to come as we get closer. And as I close, I will just say that since I gained no weight at this appointment... bring on Thanksgiving.

Update on Baby Fogde

Well, I had my Dr. appointment today and it was definitely the fastest I've gotten in and out of the office. I think I was there for 30 minutes... record time! Hoorah for the first appointment of the morning :) Things are looking good. My uterus is actually measuring 27cm which would put me about 2 weeks ahead of schedule (I am scheduled to start my 25th week tomorrow) and since my uterus is measuring at 27, I could be slightly ahead of where they originally had me pegged. We shall see... so maybe January it will be. The Dr. also said I'm too fat... Ok she didn't really say it like that, but she said I gained too much weight this time. I wont go into anymore detail about that though. :)

We/I am continuing the process of the nursery. Got the bedding in the mail and it is SO SO SO ADORABLE! I love it :) Now I'm looking for material to recover our rocking chair as well as make some window seat cushions. I have a whole smattering of baby girl clothes all over the floor in the room because we received all of the clothes from our niece who was also born in early Feb. We will be getting our crib on Friday. We received that from Nathan's mom and step dad via their in-laws. They bought it practically brand new at a yard sale, so we just need to make sure we have all the parts to put it together (there are no directions) :) But things are coming along and I'm getting more and more excited as they do.

Lastly, I saw her punch out my stomach this past week. I was laying on the couch and I saw this really quick protrusion and I thought, I'm pretty sure that was a hand or a foot or something. It was because she did it several more times. Not the complete "alien belly" yet, but she is definitely letting us know she is there :) T minus 116 days, but whose counting anway? :)

Ladybugs All Over

Well, I have made a big step in the last week. I have decided on a theme for baby Fogde's room. Ladybugs :) It has been quite a process trying to figure out what to do, what I want, what I like... what I think she will like etc. So... at first we saw this adorable set which included ladybugs at BabyDepot. We had planned on getting that once we found out it was a girl, then I decided the colors were all too muted. It had green and red and pink and white and black... but all very soft versions of those colors. I decided I wanted something with a little more punch. So I went searching google like any normal curious person. I wasn't sold on the whole ladybug theme so I searched for baby bedding according to colors I liked together. The whole idea is that we don't want something overly girly or predominantly pink or anything like that. As I searched for bedding, I came across some very cute sets that were chocolate brown and turquoise (just about my favorite color combination). I had about 97% of my heart set on this until I started another search one day. Randomly, I googled "lady bug baby bedding sets" and as I saw various pictures come up, one caught my eye. I might even say it was love at first sight. It was so precious, and I just invisioned little baby girl loving her bedroom and loving ladybugs. The best is yet to come... It was a set on Ebay that was listed for $49.99 which for any 4 piece bedding set is a great deal! This one, however, was a 9 piece set including some additional accessories besides just the crib bedding. What a steal!!!
Well, for those of you who utilize ebay... there is also a whole bidding process. I actually had to have my parents bid on it for me because I was not going to have access to a computer when the bidding ended, and they were outbid by only 80 cents. Sad times!!! Well, the following day, I went searching for it again just to see if this store had listed another set. Low and behold they had! Still same price and all!!! I was able to win the set for a mere $61.00. I am so excited about the set, and so excited for her room. I had to tell you all of this so that when you see the picture, hopefully you will love it as much as I do :) Here it is!!!

So, what we get in the set is the bumper, the dust ruffle, the blanket, the pillow, the sheet, 2 window valances, the diaper stacker, and the toy stacker (which I will probably use as a hamper). I am hoping to prevail upon my mother to maybe make a cover for the changing pad as well as a large window seat pillow, or a few pillows to put on a cute window seat we have in the baby's room. Probably something either red and polka dotted, or checkered pattern... something of the sort. So... for any of you who read this who are looking into baby bedding (which I don't think any of you who read this are prego, so not that this matters) don't forget about good ol' ebay :)