Reconnecting is fun!

Wow, how cool! It is so GOOD to hear from people I haven't seen or spoken to in a long time! I hope that you continue to check in on this blog from time to time and let me know how you are. I am surprised that I haven't heard from any family... did you guys get the email? I really hope that this will be a way that you can feel connected to our family, even way up here in north country. So, here is a picture of my favorite toddler these days. Madelyn is walking up and down stairs like a pro these days. Pipsqueak is moving around constantly! And become it is summer, Ben and I are busy remodeling our house again.

Right now we are trying to tackle painting all the walls on the main floor. I think that they may have the same paint on them that they were originally painted with almost 50 years ago. This 4th of July weekend we are specificly tackling the grand canyon wall. If you have visited us in our new home, you know exactly what wall I am talking about. For those of you that haven't visited yet... here's a less than optimal picture, but it gives you the idea. It is time for the grand canyon to go!

One more thing, today is a happy day for me because Madelyn took her first cry-free nap without her "pi" (better known as a pacifier). Madelyn was down to using it only at naps and bedtime and we went cold-turkey from the pi last Friday. I probably would have let her continue having it, if it wasn't for the screaming "pi" in the middle of the night when she lost it. That was too much! Anyway, it is interesting what things make you happy with toddlers. Definitely a change from pre-toddler days!

Baby #2's Ultrasound

Well, it actually has been a couple of weeks (wow, has it already been three weeks) since our ultrasound. I can't believe it has been that long already. And pipsqueak is doing great! As you can see, I have given this baby a womb-name, pipsqueak. It makes things easier and less confusing because Ben and I call Madelyn "the baby" quite often still, even though she's almost two and not really a baby at all. Anyway, the things that we were most concerned about, signs of spina bifida and length of cervix, show no signs of anything to worry about! That was very exciting! Then as the tech was measuring this and that (all very cool to watch), she happened to stop in a very strategic spot where, if you were oriented, revealed something very intriquing. She then pulled the ultrasound head away and said quickly, "Do you want to know the gender?" By this time Ben and I had already seen what there was to know. It is good thing that we wanted to know when we got there! And so... we are having a BOY! I'm very excited to be giving Madelyn a little brother! God is good! I'm most excited about having another healthy pregnancy. I'm 23 weeks along now and feel as big as a house already! I suddenly felt pretty uncomfortable yesterday. Hopefully that will pass and I will get back to feeling comforatble again. I was feeling very good before yesterday. So the countdown continues without any worries - 17 weeks to go!

PS - I know that it has been a long time since I posted here. It's not because I've been too busy, although I have been busy, and not because I haven't been thinking about it. I have been probably been thinking too much about it. I like journaling but this is a different kind of journaling. It is public journaling which is a completely different animal than what I've done in the past. I guess you could say that I went through a wet-feet stage with my blog. I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue, what I would write about, or who I'm writing to! Then I guess I realized again what I said in my first post - I am doing this to help my family and friends keep up with what me and my family are up to! The point of this "journal" is completely different than a written personal journal!

Not so exhausted!

I am so glad that I'm not as exhausted anymore! I was just realizing that I'm starting to think about stuff that needs to be done other than just the necessary stuff! I'm taking this as a sign that I am feeling better and that I, at least, have a little more energy. This coincides nicely with the weather getting pretty nice too. So Madelyn and I are trying to venture outside more!

Baby stuff I forgot to mention

Man, there was some important information I forgot to include in my last post! For instance, when is the baby due and how far along am I? Okay, the baby is scheduled to make an appearance on October 22nd and I'm 11 weeks along. Almost done with that first trimester! Now for more information that you might have wanted to know....Ben and I were trying for a boy! That doesn't guarantee anything but from what I understand, if you follow the instructions I was given, the odds are pretty good, like 80%. Just know from the start that we would be happy as clams (what does that mean?) with a boy or girl. Any wagers anyone?

Can you tell that my mood is better in this post than the last? That is because the horrible afternoon drowsies and yuckies haven't hit yet....feel lucky that you don't have to endure another depressing post!

As a heads up, remember that surgical procedure that had done while I was pregnant with Madelyn? We are having it done with this prenancy as well. God willing, it will go as "uneventfully" as it did the last time.

My Lord, thank you for your faithfulness. Please guide the doctor's hands as he puts these few but necessary stitches in next week. Be with me and our little one as we recover from this surgery. And please bless us with a "uneventful" pregnancy and a wonderfully healthy baby!

Baby news!

Hmmm.....I don't even know how to start this one. I guess I'll just say it - I'm PREGNANT! This really isn't new news to most people. We have quietly and individually told the closest people to us. I, however, have not been blogging about it and that has been hard! I have been wanting to talk about it but for some reason I feel like if I write it here then the whole world will know! But, since I'm using this as a sort of journal, I have wanted to write about this big event in my life! =) I have been very conflicted, but no more! I am stepping out and bearing my secret to the the blog world!

I am also conflicted about the pregnancy itself....but not in the way you might think. I want to be ecstatic about being pregnant and shout it from the rooftops! But.....you see, about half the time I don't feel well at all and it is hard to be excited when you aren't feeling well! I feel sick to my stomach and completely exhausted! Thankfully, I wake up feeling pretty good and continue to feel pretty good through lunch. THEN, the exhaustion hits me like brick....I need a cot in my office. Then about 4:30pm I start feeling nauseated and that lasts the rest of the night. I can safely say that I am not enjoying the evening hours of my first trimester. Hopefully this will subside in the next few weeks....

I told Ben that I don't remember being this exhausted when I was pregnant with Madelyn and he reminded me of the amount of time that I spent on the couch from the moment I got home from work til the moment I went to bed. I guess getting the same rest time isn't as easy with a 19 month old!

Lord, thank you for this little ife inside of me! Please help me in protecting it and keeping it safe through this pregnancy.

Talking to myself....

I feel like I should write a post, but I don't know what to write about. Maybe the thoughts that run through my mind a lot lately will be entertaining - "I have to get the taxes done." "Hmm, Madelyn needs pants. I really should get to folding her clothes that are sitting in the dryer." "What will we have for dinner?" "Spring is right around the corner!" "I'm tired." Ok, not very entertaining....

I guess I can give an update on what Madelyn is up to these days. She is so active! But the good news is that she is starting to entertain herself too. She doesn't need Ben or I to be at her side all the time anymore. She is saying "Mommy" and "Daddy" as names now; when she and I walk into a room where Daddy is she points and says "Daddy". It is very cute! She also has a baby that we gave her when she turned 18 months. The baby came with a little bottle so she likes to carry the baby around feed it the bottle. But she doesn't keep the bottle in the baby's mouth. She thinks it is like a sippy cup, so she takes the bottle away every couple of seconds and says "ahhh!" like she does with her sippy cup. That is also very cute! Madelyn loves her books too. I can ask to go find a book to read and she will disappear for a few minutes, usually trying to find a specific book. then we will read it. Then the she finds another and we read that one too. She now has motions and sounds that she makes that are specific to each book. I love it!

Ben is doing well. He finished his winter quarter and is now starting his spring quarter on Monday. So he has had a little bit of a breather and will back to the grind soon. He has a wedding that he is going to this weekend - a friend from college. So he is going by himself and leaving Madelyn and I to have fun at home. I hope he is able to catch up with some friends while he is there.

My birthday was last Sunday. Happy Birthday to me! It was a big one - 30. I don't feel 30 but I guess the facts say I am. Ben and I went to eat sushi with a couple of friends (and their very new baby - 1 week) last Friday on Nicolett Mall. That was fun! I also spent time with friends on Thursday with Indian food and games and Saturday at the Mall of America. Very nice to spend the time with friends.

Thank you God for your quiet murmurings in my ear - little bits of encouragement that help me see the blessings and wonderful gifts that you have placed in my life. Amen.