37 weeks and counting...

Here I am at 37 weeks. Almost there!!!

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 ;)