Big sister gets a

little sis!

We found out this week that we'll be adding to the complete imbalance in the family! These girls will have so much fun, I'm sure!

Everything else at the ultrasound looked great!

two years

Two years ago today. . .

Katherine Noelle Bailey, 5 lbs 14 oz 18 1/2 in. tall
born at 8:06 a.m.

One year ago today. . .

(look at these cute chubby cheeks!)

Two years old. . .
25 lbs
2 ft 91/2 in. tall
:-)

what do you say when you don't know what to say?

"Where's the string, mom?" -- referring to the cord on my cell phone that I had plugged up to the charger.

"Take off the wrapper, mom." -- the strap on a new hand-me-down pair of shoes.

"chappers" -- Chapstick

"I don't WANT to get on the alligator!" -- refusing to board the elevator at the doctor's office.

isn't she getting big?

I just love this picture. It captures a certain wistful expression that looks like a real 2 year old. She has a real mother's heart, too. :-( sniff, sniff. My baby girl is growing up.

the holly & the ivy

Well, the Christmas season is upon us. I've been Christmas shopping (mostly online) & Christmas crafting for a few weeks, but this weekend we did a bunch of FUN Christmas things, like put up our tree & our little village, hang the stockings, and watch Kate enjoy it all! There is simply nothing like seeing old traditions through new little eyes. Kate actually went out to pick up the tree with Josh. She came back home with a little branch & proudly informed me that this was HER Christmas tree. In a bit we saw another branch on the floor which I was informed was Momma's Christmas tree, and then when Dad brought in the *real* one. . . well, that was Dad's Christmas tree. What a cutie! She LOVED trimming the tree & wanted to play with each ornament. Josh has an ornament for each year of his growing up years, and many of them are really cute -- Snoopy, the Pokey Little Puppy, airplanes, firetrucks with mouse firemen. Kate got a real kick out of getting them out of their boxes & playing with each one before picking out a place on the tree for it. We're continuing the tradition of an ornament for Kate each year, and I had a lot of fun showing her the two ornaments that belong to her.

Saturday began with a bit of Christmas portrait taking. Our smiley, sweet little girl turned into Miss Sourpuss just in time for us to have the camera pointed at us. The whole morning she was so excited about taking pictures with "Lya, Lawren, Ben, Auntie Jen. . run out of breath. . continue the litany of family members." But, somehow, the unfamiliar surroundings & the chilly weather combined to make her ill at ease. Finally, some brilliant lady (Jen) remembered the candy she had brought & after scads of Smarties, Kate became a bit better performer. Oh well. Se la vie. We did get some good shots, thankfully! In fact, it was not just the smarties that affected our smiles, but some kerrazy antics by Auntie Jen & a moose. I think she had Josh & I giggling, too.

So, this is how the morning started off. . . mom & dad looking pretty nice, Kate looking inscrutably at the camera.

Post-smarties

One of the better shots -- all three of us actually smiling!

Also post smarties, but if you look carefully, the smartie actually showed up IN the picture!

Later that afternoon, Kate helping Dad fix the lights.

The Finished Product! Do you think I could have a tree up all year?

A little bonus footage: my belly. I'll admit, most of that bump is actually made up of unbuttoned pants, a bella band folded over twice, a T-shirt, and a wooly sweater! But, hey!

around the bend (almost 15 weeks)

Just wanted everyone to know that I think I've rounded a corner! As soon as I hit 14 weeks, there was a really big difference in the way I felt. I still may not feel perky the entire day, and I've had some nausea, but the feeling I have when I wake up in the morning is SOOO different. I feel that I can take on the day. I have energy. I no longer require a 3 hour nap in the afternoon. I have a little baby bump. I can't wear my pre-pregnancy button/zip pants anymore.

I'm so happy that my little "plan" worked. I feel better much earlier than I did last time through, and I think it's because I took those meds! Praise the Lord! I'm also MUCH more interested in food in general, and also have some REAL dislikes. I am still not up for cooking my meals, but I'm hoping to make it through next week & maybe be running at least half of my ship by then. (The food half).

Don't want to see or touch or smell: fish, apples (smell), gas from the grill being turned on, Soy Delicious ice cream, Frosted Mini-Wheats, several of the staple meals from "The Josh Meals" -- they are tasty, but my first trimester experience of them has tainted them for me.

Love and wish all my food tasted so good: fries, soups (I could eat soup every day, and almost have!), lemonade or limeade, Hershey's dark chocolate, coke (bad, I know!), chili, saltines (with soup, not really stand alone)