Merry Christmas - It's A GIRL!

We are so excited to announce that Derin and I are expecting our little girl by the end of April! Honestly we were in shock when the doctor told us our new baby was a girl. Michael was just pointing at the screen saying "baby". I am so glad that we will have a daughter and cannot wait to see what kind of big brother Michael will be to a little girl.

While we knew our baby was a girl on the 23rd, we waited until today, Christmas to tell everyone. Derin raised his glass for a toast and announced that our ultrasound was fabulous and our baby was healthy. Everyone was silent hoping for more so Derin said that my dad would read about the birth of Jesus from the gospel of Luke. After my dad finished his reading, he said but if they had a second child it would have been....and I shouted GIRL! Everyone screamed, I cried again and my dad brought in this pink balloon. We are so thrilled that God has blessed us with our son Michael and cannot wait to meet our little girl, whenever she arrives. Now the hard part...what will we name her?

Getting Ready for Christmas

     Well, last year at this time Michael was diagnosed with RSV and was hospitalized.  As difficult as that was we also closed on our old and new house and tried to move during the same weekend.  So, needless to say we did not get any Christmas up until December 23rd.  Well, not this year.  The weekend after Thanksgiving, Nana and PawPaw were here and we just got to setting up the house!  We were so tired at the end of the day but it was totally worth it.  We got the tree up with the lights on but left the rest of the tree trimming for when Derin got home.  It was hilarious because my dad mowed and edged the yard and then decided to get on our roof and blow off all the leaves!  The silliest part is how my sweet little Michael slept through the entire experience.  Why can’t he do that at night?

 

     We ate dinner, grandparents hit the road (with protests from Michael) and the three of us finished the tree. Later we put the lights outside and Michael kept climbing up the ladder. He is such a daredevil and has now started doing flips off the couch.  NOT OKAY with Mommy and Daddy. So he was angry when Mommy kept pulling him down to the second step on the ladder.

     I love waking up and turning on all the lights!  Michael hasn’t messed with the tree (yet) but he does like to play with all of the packages under the tree.  So, his presents will not go out until Christmas Eve.  But either way, I cannot wait to see what my little man does once Santa has come to our home!

 

 

  

 

Michael’s Dedication

     Well, we finally had Michael dedicated at church on December 5th.  Now he is already 17 months old but better late than never!  It just seems that I do things a little later than other people these days.  I think I need a vacation.  Anyway, it was truly a precious moment and I was holding back tears when pastor Butch read to the three of us. Michael was smiling and talking and just “hamming” it up in front of the church.  We were up on the big screen and Michael was not shy in front of the crowd.  I wonder where he gets that?  Anyway, it was so sweet because the sermon was out of Luke and the birth of baby Jesus.  He spoke of how we dedicate our children to God knowing that all belong to him and we are simply their “step” parents here on earth.  Michael received a Bible and a sweet hand-sewn blanket that he loves to pull around the house.      After church we all went to eat Chinese food, thank you pregnancy cravings but Michael was ready for bed.  It was a perfect Sunday with all our family there to watch our sweet son and his dedication.

Christmas List 2010

     I cannot believe it is that time of year already!  I am so glad that it is Christmas time and that we are not in the same place as last year.  This time last year, Michael had RSV and was in the hospital, at the same time, Derin and the DePalermo family were moving us into our new home.  It was a crazy time and I am so glad to be settled, the tree is up and its time for Michael’s list!

These are some cute clothes and jammies that Michael needs in his closet and yes, it’s all Old Navy. 

Love, Love, Love these little Puma shoes. Michael is running now and needs the gear to go with it!  He is now in a size 5 in Pumas, they seem to run small?! Here are some of the sweet toys that my little man needs to learn, play and explore! The best part is, you can get them all at Target (It’s what Academy is to men!)

  

This Busy Zoo Michael MUST have, I just know it will keep him busy and entertained for more than his usual 5 minutes!

I saw these blocks and thought it would be fun for Michael to play with and build a castle or whatever his imagination can create!

Nesting blocks!  Definitely a must because my nesting mixing bowls need a break!

Lastly, a trunk to put Michael’s many toys in, yep, they have taken over my house but honestly, I don’t care!  Again, this is at Target, is there anything you can’t buy there?

So that is the list for my little man this Christmas.  I can’t wait until Michael can write his own list and leave it on the fireplace for Santa!  BUT, right now he can stay my baby, at least a while longer :).

Give Thanks

Wow, I know this is very late but at least I am finally getting around to it! Honestly, I don't know how I will ever blog when I have two little ones to run after. I am basically treading water between being pregnant, being a Mommy, being a teacher and Derin's work schedule. Oh well, I'm online now.
Sadly, while I brought my camera to Thanksgiving, I did not take any pictures. But nonetheless, there is so much I have to be thankful for! We spent Thanksgiving at Lulu's house (Derin's sister) with Mamalu, Gigi and Uncle Craig. It was nice and quiet and Michael completely enjoyed being the center of attention. He snacked all day and then of course refused to eat the turkey. What happened to my baby that ate everything? Instead he opted for his usual grilled cheese sandwich. He did, however LOVE the cranberry sauce! Such a sweet tooth! Derin had to work but got there just in time for dinner and it was YUMMY! Funny thing is that I couldn't even finish what was on my plate! So much for being hungry and pregnant. We all said what we were thankful for and then it was time to get Michael home to bed. He was SO tired, apparently its tough being a 17 month old.
So here is what I am so completely thankful for:
1. My salvation
2. My husband
3. My incredible son
4. The chance to be a mommy x2
5. That we have jobs
6. My family and how much they adore my son
7. The fact that I was born and raised in the U.S.
8. Our health
9. Skittles (I am loving these right now!)
10. Technology so I can see if I am having a boy or girl! (just two more weeks)

First Trimester-Thank Goodness That's Over!

Wow, first I have to say that being pregnant is truly a blessing and we are so excited about our new addition.  This issue here is that I have been sick since before I knew I was pregnant.  At first I thought I had a stomach virus, but then found out I was expecting.  Great!  Well I don’t know why I thought the sick stomach would go away, instead it just got worse.  There were days I couldn’t get out of bed.  I now realize how lucky I was when I was pregnant with Michael and had no morning sickness!  Had my first pregnancy been so rough, I don’t think we would have had another baby so soon. 

Anyway, with that said, all is well with our little one. I am feeling so much better, three whole days without feeling sick.  I now have some energy and just wish the days were longer!  Our little one looks good and has a strong heartbeat.  We will find out, if our baby cooperates, if baby is a boy or girl on our 8th wedding anniversary December 28th! 

Here are our 8 Week Sonogram pictures.  We are now fourteen weeks so these are old but precious nonetheless!

Unbelievably I am already in my maternity clothes.  I wasn’t wearing maternity this early last time but I guess things are different the second time around.  It feels like I am wearing a fanny pack (hello early 90s).  So, I am cherishing this time with Michael, knowing that in a few months he will be a sibling, a big brother.  He is so sweet and such a joy, I hope he can handle a new baby.  Actually, I hope Kaya our persian can handle another baby!  So as soon as we get more pictures of our little love, I will post away!

Big Boy

Well, the day has finally come where Michael has begun to feed himself with utensils. Until now, he has been using his fingers to feed himself. While I thought this day would make life easier for me, I now realize I was sadly mistaken.  Michael loves his applesauce so a couple of weeks ago, I was trying to feed him but he kept refusing and then took the spoon from me.  He was so cute trying to eat the applesauce from the little container.  One interesting fact is that he feeds himself with his left hand.  He tried his right hand but then switched back. 

So why is this not any easier for me?  Well, he is so much more messy now.  Most of the applesauce misses his mouth but he looks so cute trying to eat it.  So while my clean up duties are that much greater, he is so happy to feed himself.  We haven’t tried forks yet and cups just get water everywhere but we are making progress.  So here’s to my little boy growing up.  I just can’t wait to see how he is with his little sister or brother and just look at all of those teeth!

Halloween

Well, Halloween this year was a big improvement, not because we had more fun but because Michael stayed awake this time.  Last year he was only four months old so even though he was adorable as Yoda, he wasn’t in love with the whole fall festival thing.  But this year I believe he was beginning to get the hang of it.  This year, Michael now 16 months old was a lumberjack and a very cute one at that. Every bit of his costume was easy except when we went to “paint” on his stubble beard with eyeliner.  You would have thought we were pulling a tooth or something! He was screaming his little head off, but we managed to get something on his face and then all was right with the world again.

We went to the fall festival at our church and Michael got to play games.  Well, Derin and I helped Michael play the games.  I think he broke most of the rules but everyone thought he was too cute so they didn’t notice.  While the games and candy were fun, Michael found his new love…sour dill pickles.  I had a large dill pickle and gave it to Michael just to see how he would react.  Well, it is the only thing that has kept him still and quite for more than two minutes in months!  He LOVED it and was holding it so sweetly with both hands just eating away.  It was so sour that I even puckered my lips but not my little man, it was his ambrosia.  So of course when Mommy took it away, I was not his favorite person but, it was way too much for him all at once.  Lulu even offered some cotton candy but there was no consoling him.  It was fine as usual with his little fits, they end as abruptly as they begin.  All in all is was a fun night and I am so excited to see what he will be next year, he will actually have a say in what I dress him in!