Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving trip to South Bend was wonderful. Full of family and plenty of fun for Anna. We really enjoyed our few days to visit, relax, and to be thankful.

Here are a couple of pictures of Anna watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. This was the first year she payed any attention and she enjoyed watching bits and pieces. She really enjoyed the Sesame Street float and Santa Claus. She was tickled pink to see her Sesame Street friends and she was so excited to see Santa that she had to salute him with her own!

Caffeine and a 10 hour nap

This is what I need most....caffeine and a 10 hour nap. If only I could have these two things! Imagine how much better I'd feel....perky and lively with energy to spare. Well, maybe not all of that. But at least I'd feel better with a tad more pep in my step. I am tired. It's par for the course, I'm afraid, since I am, after all, preggo. But ugh, I am tired! At least the 1st trimester queasy torture has passed. I'm feeling better in that regard, however still have some food aversion. Mostly anything that's green does not appeal much to me. This is regretful, since I'm admittedly not eating as many vegetables as I should be. This is much different for me this time around. When I was pregnant with Anna I had a bit of queasiness, but nothing like this time. I ate so well with Anna and was so good about being healthy and getting enough fruit, veggies, and calcium. I'm not doing as well this time....my poor little Baby #2 is longing for leafy greens and antioxidants! Everyday I have a new goal for more vegetables. I've yet to impress myself with reaching this goal. BUT, I do often surpass expectations for napping! I have really been good at resting. No problem there. But while I nap, my house stays messy and the laundry piles. *sigh* Caffeine.... more naps .... and a maid ....

We'll be headed to South Bend in a couple of days to spend Thanksgiving with our families. There will be a big void this year, as Scott will not be here with us. The first Thanksgiving without my brother. I miss him so deeply at moments that it takes my breath away. Scott always made the mashed potatoes for our family Thanksgiving. He was really good at it! He was the potato man. I'll take over the mashed potato tradition this year, however I know they won't have the same special-ness to them. Through my grief, I often think 'how can I be thankful this year?' I'm not thankful to be without Scott. I'm not thankful that my parents lost their son and that I lost my brother. I'm not thankful to be hurting every single day and to fight tears through difficult smiles. I'm just not. However my Aunt Joan told me that when she looks at things through her wordly eyes, things look worse and confusing. But when she uses her spiritual and faithful eyes, things make more sense. So, when I use my spiritual eyes I can be thankful that Scott is with Jesus. And that he isn't hurting anymore and he is safe and comforted. I am thankful that he is happy. I am thankful he is looking down at my family. And he is with us. Scott is in our hearts and memories forever. I am thankful he is my brother. And that my parents and I, and so many others, were blessed by his life. And we have the rest of our lives to remember and love him. So, I am thankful for that. And I am thankful for my strong and loving parents, who I adore and cherish. And of course I am thankful for my own little family....my dear husband who completes me, my darling Anna girl, and my tiny littlest one that I am blessed to be carrying. I am thankful for each of my extended family members and friends, who often lift me up with love. With all of these things, how can I not be thankful? So, Happy Thanksgiving to you. Let's count our blessings.

"I heard it!"

I had an OB appointment today to check on Baby #2. I am 11 weeks along already! The appointment was quick and routine. Everything looks great and we were able to hear the baby's heart beat! I took Anna along to the appointment today and she was well behaved and patient. However, she did not like when I had to lay on the exam table. So, she sat on the table next to me and then she liked being a part of the action. It took a few minutes to find the baby's heartbeat, which is typical since the baby is still so small. Once they found it, we were able to hear the little "woosh-woosh" sound of the little heart beating. And Anna said, "I heard it!!" What a moment - to hear the first sounds of my newest little one and to hear my "big girl" exclaim with happiness that she heard it, too.

Brent wasn't able to come to the appointment today since he had a meeting for work. But he surprised us and was able to meet us at the doctor's office just as we were leaving. We wish he could have been there to hear the baby, but he also took joy in hearing Anna re-cap the appointment. She told him, "Check her belly" and "Baby in there". While I know she doesn't really understand what is going on, she is now getting a tad more interested. Since the appointment, she has lifted up the edge of my shirt twice to take a peek at my belly. She must be wondering what all the fuss is about!

Brent took us out to Panera for lunch. Then we walked downtown a bit and we found a Thanksgiving dress for Anna. A perfect little family afternoon!

Now Anna is napping. Brent is back to work, but is at home here in his office. I have to take the dog to the vet and then have to be at work at 6pm. Busy day! But with many blessings.

**GASP!** A VAN!

Check out that shiny new 2011 Honda Odyssey minivan. In MY driveway!

Yep, we got a new car. A VAN! A total Mom-ride. But! It's the coolest, not-so-van-like model out there. And it drives fabulous and hello room! Anyone need a ride?? I'm offering! I have the space! Bring a friend!

Our 1999 Honda Civic took a dump on us and it was costly to fix. We were looking to get a bigger car anyway, especially now with baby #2 on the way. We need the room, especially for all the traveling we do. We towed my beloved light blue little Civic to the Honda dealership and a few days later drove away with a sparkly black roomy minivan.

Vans get a bad rap. Kind of nerdy. Dorky moms drive vans. I had to swallow hard a few times myself before making the final decision to go with the van. I'm here to stand up to the stigma and say.... I'm not dorky. And I'm a mom. A soon-to-be mom of 2. And I think my van is pretty cool looking. AND, while you (the mom looking down her nose at my van) struggle to get your kids into your SUV and fit the stroller and the groceries....I'll be laughing all the way out of the parking lot, since the kids and I are already locked and loaded into our super spacious and totally practical (but not so nerdy) van.

We make our first South Bend road trip this weekend and are pretty excited about it. No more packing the trunk to the gills. No more squeezing in with bags under our feet. Heck, I may pack an extra bag....just because!

Anna the Ballerina!

Happy Halloween! Anna had a busy and fun Halloween week. The highlights were story time at the library (she got to wear her costume), Zoo Boo, playing with Halloween stickers, M&Ms and suckers. Trick-or-treating was not Anna's favorite this year. She did not like it and we only made it to one house! We were surprised that she didn't like it after all the fun she had "practicing" at home all week. So, we handed out candy to the trick-or-treaters and decorated pumpkin cookies at home with Anna. Trick-or-treating aside, Anna was the cutest ballerina in town!

Enjoying a Halloween treat...she loves suckers!

Sitting pretty! Striking a ballerina pose.

Decorating Halloween pumpkin cookies.

At Zoo Boo! She really enjoyed this!

Enjoying library story time...Halloween style.