One Year Pictures...

So, we took Katie in to get her one year pictures done. She started the session off very happy and smiley but that quickly changed. I think our Sensitive Suzy thought we were laughing AT her and not with her and she started to cry. We were able to get several good shots but they were unfortunately not able to use very many props. she just wasn't having it. Ah well... I thought i'd share some of her pictures here. Hope you enjoy!!!

















Sorry for the sideways pics. I rotated and saved them countless times and they still want to come up sideways.

Today is Katie's party!!! We have family coming for a day of food, cake and ice cream!!! Katie will also be getting her first dose of mother nature's heavenly invention of chocolate. I'm sure i'll have plenty of pictures and video to share at a later time.

My baby is ONE!!!

Wow, where did the time go??? I can't believe i'm the mom to a one year old now (and soon to be mom of a one year old and a newborn, yikes!). I don't have any birthday pictures YET since Katie was up for a bottle and went back down to sleep for (hopefully) a while. I love my down time while she naps but I can't wait for her to wake up so I can start shooting photos and video to share with everyone.

Today is going to be more party planning for her celebration on Saturday. We're not doing anything huge but even putting together food, cake and ice cream for 20 something people is something that takes thought and time. But I can't wait! I have her huge bib ready to go and Nana is bringing the chocolate cake for her to demolish.

Katie still seems to be a bit stuffed up but is getting better. The doctor said she was just fighting some virus so we had to wait it out. Fortunately she did not have an ear infection.

Well, she's up and ready to go now... i'll post pictures later!!

Sick or not sick???

So we have made it almost a whole year with nothing more than a stuffy nose here and there. My formula fed baby has stayed healthy for over 11 months! Now, not so sure. She was running a very low fever early in the week and started to have some diarrhea. She didn't seem herself and has been sleeping a whole lot. Her fever is finally gone but today she won't stop crying and i've noticed her tug on her ear a few times. Matt and I are supposed to go to a hotel in Ann Arbor to celebrate our anniversary but it seems like something is against us! The weather is going to be horrific, Katie isn't feeling well, what next? (guess I really shouldn't ask that)

I am extremely gigantic and pregnant. Seriously, i'm not sure how much more my belly can stretch. It is crazy huge. Aside from that whole labor and delivery thing, i'm really ready to just have Nathan bless us with his presence and be done with the whole pregnancy thing. I am eternally grateful to be able to so easily get pregnant, but i'm done! I want to weigh something less than 170, I want the back pain to go away, I want to sleep on my stomach. And yes, I know they are easier when they are inside, trust me...

So we'll have to see about this weekend. We're hoping to stay at a hotel and swim in a pool and sit in a hot tub (for a very short period of time of course!) and eat at a good restaurant and sleep in. I just want a break. Matt went back to work part time this week as well. He'll be working 2 weeks of 1/2 days and then it is back to the full time grind for him. The good news is he seems to be doing very well and is well on his way to a full recovery. Whew!!!

Katie, Hunter

Bath Time!

11 months already? Seriously...when did that happen?

My little girl turned 11 months old yesterday. I still can't believe it has been almost a year since I spent agonizing days in the hospital trying to have her. Now it is all a distant memory and I get to wonder what will be with the upcoming labor and delivery!!! Katie really is growing up. Just this week she started to stand by herself. I was sitting in the living room with her while she played quietly and I happened to look up and see her standing, not holding on to anything! I couldn't believe it. She has done it several times since but hasn't tried to take any steps. I'm pretty sure we'll have a walker in no time. I have mixed feelings. I love to see her milestones, I love to see her grow and discover new things, but I really miss the little baby!! She now tries to pry herself out of your arms if she doesn't want to be held, how sad.

We don't have major plans for her birthday but we'll do a little bit of something. Just family with a nice meal and cake and ice cream. Should be a good time and Kate will get to see many of her favorite people.

As for me, i've decided to try the stay at home mom thing for a while. After Nathan comes i'll be officially unemployed. I'm really not sure how I feel about that. Excited that i'll be able to raise my kids but scared of always being at home. I suppose it isn't a permanent thing and I can always go back to work if it isn't working out for me. I am feeling okay but have had a mild headache for a few days now. The pregnancy is going well and I continue to go to my bi-weekly appointments only to hear "yup, you're still pregnant, see you next time".

Matt starts his cardiac rehab tomorrow. I'm glad they are finally getting him going with this. I think it will be good for him to get out of the house and get some exercise. I know he isn't a sit on the couch type of guy so activity will be good for him!!! He continues to do better and better everyday so we are very thankful for that.

Updates

Well, I wanted to post pictures and video but I just haven't had the time these days. Matt continues to do a lot better and he's at least on the right track. He is still pretty tired and sore from the surgery but day by day things look better. We're still waiting to hear when he'll be able to start rehab. I think it will be good for him to start exercising a little bit. I think getting out of the house and having something to do will be great for his mental health as well as physical.

So I am due in 2 1/2 months! The thought of childbirth doesn't excite me a whole lot and I even think I had a mini anxiety attack thinking of it this morning. BUT I have no choice, I have to do it! And if I survived Katie's birth, i'm sure this one will be cake.

Katie continues to crawl, stand and be quite the energetic kid. She is just all over the place. The thought of chasing her around AND taking care of a newborn is a pretty scary and overwhelming thing to think about. I really don't know what i'm going to do. The thought of being up around the clock again AND take care of Katie scares the crap out of me. Anyone want to move in and be my helper for 8 weeks? I don't pay well but you will be rewarded with being able to spend time with the kids!!! Matt will be back to work at that point so it will be me, heavily medicated, trying to survive...

All in all, things continue to get better for us. I can't complain, Matt does everything he can and is starting to be able to do more. I think Nathan is trying to break free from my belly today! His kicks and jabs are quite painful.

Also, the attached pictures of me are from yesterday. I got an awesome haircut that I really love. The pictures do absolutely no justice!!!!