33 weeks

So I can't believe it is getting so close. Here is baby boy belly at 33 weeks!

27 weeks and Valentine's Day!

So just a short update...I am 27 weeks and 2 days today! Can't believe it. This baby is kicking and is definitely a mover and a shaker (what does that mean for the next few years of my life????) and we're so grateful he is healthy. I have my glucose test on Tuesday and am hoping I pass! I've been really uncomfortable when I sleep and am definitely waddling, but that's cute, right??? ;)

It has been a crazy month and a good one. John surprised me for Valentine's Day by getting me Belgian chocolates (my favorite kind of chocolate :) ) and a dozen beautiful roses and...drum roll please...reservations to this hotel I've been wanting to go to for months called the CliffHouse. It is in Manitou Springs (close to the Garden of the Gods) and was built in 1874. The rooms are decorated after different famous people who have stayed there such as Teddy Roosevelt, Charles Dickens, and other fun characters. It was a beautiful weekend and we had a very romantic dinner that night at the hotel and just enjoyed spending some time alone. We also discovered a local restaurant that served Mediterranean food---we ate chicken shawarma and falafel. Yum! It brought me back to when I went to Israel a couple of summers ago. Delicious! I sure love my husband!

I 've been wanting to decorate and create and do all sorts of organizing around the house, so I finally finished painting, making, and decorating wooden letters for each of the kids' names and putting them up in their rooms. I was pretty proud of myself for how cute they turned out! ;) No expensive online letters done by someone else, thank you very much. I'll save a bit of money and do it myself :) Other than that, just preparing for baby to come. We're getting the nursery ready little by little and I can hardly believe he's coming so soon. I've been asking myself what this little one will be like and if he will have the Wall genes (i.e. toehead) or look more like a Winkler or a combination of both? No, these questions don't keep me up at night (though the lovely kicks, aches, and pains do :) ), but I guess we'll find out soon enough!!

I also got to train for a music program called "Let's Play Music" which is specifically set up to help kids ages 4-7 prepare to take piano lessons. I'm so excited to start teaching in the Fall! Here is a picture of all of us at training.



Happy March!

Hello Blog!

Our first look at our baby. Can't believe what a miracle life is.

Me at 18 weeks!

Hello Blog! It's nice to see you again. The past couple of months have been crazy with the holidays, being sick, and getting back into a schedule, but I can say I finally feel like a semi-normal person again. Being so sick with this pregnancy for so much time really made me appreciate feeling good. I can actually eat food again and it doesn't sound awful or make me want to throw up! Ha. It's a miracle! Although spinach and artichoke dip still makes me want to gag. Such a sad day. I used to LOVE that stuff.

Here's our little guy at the 20 week ultrasound!

We also found out two weeks ago that we're having a baby BOY!!! Yahoo! We are really excited. Anna told us that she "changed her mind and now I want a boy." Well, good. Glad we can make everyone happy :) I've been trying not to go too crazy over the million and one things we still need for his arrival, but I will admit that Target clearance has become my good friend lately :) It's insane what is needed for a little one when you're starting from square one. Now every time I walk into a store, I head straight for the baby stuff. I haven't really bought much, but I sure love looking. I have mapped out the nursery (now Anna's room) and how I want to decorate. I am really excited and will most likely add some decor to the other kids' rooms too. Little by little, I keep telling myself. I still can't believe there is a little being growing inside of me. It's so surreal. I look at my belly in the mirror and think, "Wait. What? This little body is coming out in a few months. Of me. Whoa." I know. Deep thoughts are had inside of this pregnancy brain these days. What can I say? ;) Not many thoughts stay inside of this pregnancy brain these days, actually. Ha. It's incredible how quickly I will forget what I was thinking just seconds after thinking it. I feel like the dog Doug from the movie...Squirrel!!

22 weeks!

Anyway, the baby has started to kick and move a lot and it's the strangest, yet coolest feeling. When we saw him in the 20 week ultrasound, he was breech and we're hoping the little guy moves around to come out head first. We still have a little time :) I have already started becoming uncomfortable at night and having trouble sleeping, which I'm told isn't supposed to happen yet. Ha. Well, folks, it is happening, and I guess I ought to get used to it, eh? I have strange, strange dreams and am often too warm, so I'm sure that's contributing to it all. Despite the uncomfortable nights, strange dreams, and increase in appetite, making me feel like I'm eating enough for three ;), I'm so incredibly excited for this little guy to make his appearance.

An Announcement...

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This week and next week's menu!

I know, I know. It's unbelievable that I am actually blogging almost TWO WEEKS of menus, but, well, here they are. Enjoy! (I'm pretty sure we will ;) )

Tuesday: Lasagna Soup
               Garlic Bread
               Green Salad
               Mango Lassi (yeah, I know, it's Indian and we're doing Italian tonight, but gosh, it just sounded good! I replace the sugar with honey)

Wednesday: Crispy Chicken Wraps
                    Green Beans
                    Fruit Salad

Thursday: Chicken Pillows (I am making Homemade Crescent Rolls and also homemade cream of chicken soup---super easy--as well as homemade chicken gravy--- both for the sauce on top).
                 Spinach Salad with Dried Cranberries, Almonds, and Homemade Poppy Seed Dressing
                 Berry Smoothie

Friday: Movie Night!
            Turkey Burgers
            Homemade French Fries
            Broccoli

Saturday: Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches
                Carrots sauteed with butter and onions
                Fruit Salad

Sunday: Baked Chicken Chimichangas
              Black Beans
              Rice
              Guacamole, Sour Cream, Cheese (I love fresh cilantro and lime in my guacamole)

Monday: Pizza Bites
               Caesar Salad with Homemade Croutons
               Peach Mango Smoothie (I just use Greek plain yogurt and add some honey to sweeten it a      little bit)

Tuesday: Crockpot Cashew Chicken
                Rice
                Zucchini

Wednesday: Creamy Fettuccine with Ham and Peas
                    Garlic Bread
                    Green Salad
                    Honey Lime Fruit Salad

Thursday: Thanksgiving at the Winklers!

Friday: Chicken & Zucchini Stir-Fry
            Rice
            Mango Lassi
                    

Happy Halloween and other pics...

Here are some pics of our Halloween adventures. Didn't get any pics of the pumpkin carving this year. Oops. Enjoy!

John put an eye bandaid on Anna's eye and here is the result...

Anna does some silly things while Jonas and Vera are at school. This was one of them. "Please take a piture of me"

She loves babies.

Happy Halloween from Darth Vader, a wizard, a fairy princess, and a regular princess ;)

Trip to DC!

So John is wonderful...that is not news ;) but just one evidence of that fact came in him buying me a ticket to go out to Washington DC to "my old stomping grounds" and to see family and friends out there. I was SOOO excited to go and really needed the break. Jessica came down with her family from PA and we were able to go to the temple while Tim watched the kids and then all of us went to the National Zoo. I loved getting to know Jess' kids a little more and her oldest, Chet, wanted to hold my hand the whole time. I was so honored :) I told John he's got a little competition in that 5 yr old. Ha ha ha. Jess' kids are so adorable and we had a ton of fun. It's funny, though, that even though it was a break trip for me, I was thinking as we were at the zoo, "Wow. Jonas, Vera, and Anna would LOVE this." Ha. Yep. Still in a bit of mommy mode even on vacation (maybe always??) Anyway, it was awesome to get to have a conversation with Jess that was longer than two minutes :) and just enjoy spending time together. She and I have been through so much together and any time I get to spend with her is pretty precious! There's just nothing like getting to see your best friends and spend some quality time with them when you live in opposite parts of the country!

I also got to see a lot of my friends when another close friend of mine, Jessica (the Jessicas in my life are AWESOME!), threw a party for me. It was a fun chance to get together and see some friends I hadn't seen in a while. I had SUCH a wonderful time. I feel very blessed to have the incredible friends that I do!! I just wish I had taken pictures!!!

Hannah and I had a blast together. I just love her! We had lots of fun going for walks, talking, and just hanging out.  I have missed having close friends like her around and just being able to go over and have a nice chat. I also couldn't get over how cute her toddler Gideon is. He kept wanting to hold my hand in the grocery store and when we went for walks (there seems to be a theme here---John really has some competition ;) ha ha ha) and on the last day, wanted to give me kisses (he puts out his bottom lip and turns to the person he wants to kiss. It was absolutely the cutest thing ever! See pics below :)

I got to stay with Chris and Jen for part of the time and it was SO good to see them. We grew so close while I lived in DC and I just felt like it was still that way when I visited. I got to go to church with them, go to soccer practice, go to the temple with Jen, see pics of their most recent family trip, and just spend some quality time. We went to an Indian restaurant and my friend, Diana, met us there. It was SO good to see her and for her to make the trip out to see me in crazy DC traffic. I sure love her too.

Hannah got a bunch of our former co-workers from Nysmith together and we went to Red Robin. It was so good to see Prianka and Cathy. We had such a fun time! I've missed you guys!

I felt so rejuvenated when the trip was over...it was hard to leave, but it's also hard to not want to come back to "Mommy, I missed you really much" and "Mom, I feel so much better now that you're home" and "Mommy, I love love love you". I missed John and the kids so much and it was good to come home :) I feel much more ready to take on the day to day and am so grateful for an inspired husband who saw the need and surprised me with such a great trip!

Here are pics from the trip...

Jonas, Vera, and Anna would have loved the National Zoo!

Cute little Sari. Oh that's my finger in the picture on the side, not Jess' forehead :) Ha. Oops.

I love the DC temple! This was the best one we could get.  Chet unfortunately DIDN'T want to hold my hand that this point ;)

Gideon's kisses

And more kisses

The Great Panda

So fun to see Han!

Kimodo Dragon---it's tongue was the grossest thing...

At Red Robin with Cathy, Prianka, and Hannah. I loved it!

On a walk with Gideon

He just grabbed my hand as we were walking. SOOO cute!