Happy Halloween!!!!

Just wanted to wish everyone a safe and very Happy Halloween!

I had a busy day with my toddlers today - we picked pumpkins, then painted them. We had a big festive party with lots of sugary treats. Then closed out the day with a wonderful costume parade around our playground for all of the parents to enjoy. They were so CUTE!!! It was a good day but a long one and I'm exhausted.

We only had a couple trick or treaters tonight (less than 10!) - so I think next year we may not participate. Just too many sugary snacks left over - way too tempting!

Here are a couple pictures we snapped tonight with Maverick in his bumble bee costume. He was so adorable. I'm off to bed - I hope everyone had as good a day as we did!

"Five Little Pumpkins Sitting On A Gate..."

That's my favorite Halloween song. So cute!

It’s completely amazing to me just how fast the time flies by when you are enjoying what you do. Though I am sometimes a bit grumpy when I start work at 7AM, there is something so adorable about doing circle time and hearing my little toddlers clapping and cheering after they sing “itzy bitzy spider” or count to 10. It helps that I work with some pretty easy-going and nice people too. I think teaching definitely agrees with me.

I had such a busy week and weekend last week! On Friday I had an ultrasound to check the baby for indication of Down Syndrome. When they do the measurements, they are concerned when the level is around 40. Our level was at 14 at the highest so they are pretty sure we have nothing to worry about. I had a blood test anyway – just to see if I am a carrier. Though I hope and pray for a healthy baby, I know I will love and care for my child no matter what happens.

Saturday I spent baking cookies with Mom for my class’s Halloween Party on Wednesday. I also go to go to one of my favorite stores – the scrapbook station. I LOVE scrapbooking!! Yesterday was our dear friends Brian & Crystal’s baby shower. She got so much wonderful baby stuff!! Not only does she look absolutely adorable with her preggo belly, but she had the cutest laugh every time she opened up clothing for her son-to-be. I had a great time at the shower. I was a little shocked at just how much stuff a kid needs! Oh goodness… I think I’m in for a bit of a surprise.

This week is Halloween! Unfortunately, I still don’t think I’m wearing a costume for our party and parade on Wednesday. I just don’t feel comfortable in anything right now. I guess there’s always next year! I’m really excited for Wednesday though. I know most of my kids costume choices and I think they are going to be sooo cute! We’ll have dinosaurs, star wars characters, m&m’s, and even our own little Elvis! SO Excited!! I can’t wait to see all my little ones all dressed up for the big parade!

We have another big weekend coming up. I meeting up with friends Friday night for pizza and a movie. Saturday night we have our yearly “Thanksgiving Dinner” with our friends from Tony’s fraternity. I’m really excited. Not only to I get to spend several hours eating yummy food, but it’s in the company of great people – can’t beat that! This traditional dinner is one that I really look forward too every year. It’s the last time we’ll be adults “only” as we’ll be welcoming our little ones into the tradition next year – its one rite-of-passage I’m truly looking forward too. I hope our babies are as good of friends as we are.

Sunday starts the true countdown to Vegas! We leave next Wednesday for a 5 day trip for our friends’ Paul and Barbara’s wedding Saturday the 10th. Tony & I have always wanted to venture out to Vegas, now we get to go with friends and celebrate with them while they “tie-the-knot” Vegas style! I think we’re going to have a wonderful time…I just hope some of this tiredness eases up before we go.

Yep – I’ve still got the sleepiness. In fact – I will be climbing into my nice comfy bed the minute after I post this message! (and it’s only 8:30!) Most of the other symptoms I’ve had have thankfully passed. I am feeling pretty good. A little uncomfortable in my clothes and in my body, but I suppose that was to be expected. I’m really looking forward to the time when I can start to feel the baby moving around inside…I think it’ll be a little shocking, but completely amazing.

Alright I’m getting really sleepy now… so here are the ultrasound pictures the ubber-cranky doctor gave me last Friday. They are a bit fuzzy, but you can still make out Baby G’s head and little body. So cute!

Busy Little Bees...

First, we just wanted to thank everyone for their well wishes, prayers, and congratulatory words. It is so nice to know we are surrounded by such loving people. Thank You!!

I’d also like to take a moment and congratulate our friends Jane and Nate on the birth of their second daughter this week, and also congratulate my cousin Todd and his wife Amy on the birth of their newest son.

It’s been a busy week! I can’t believe how quickly it flew by! I’ve been prepping the kids in my class for some Halloween festivities starting Monday. They are too cute. I’m really starting to bond with them and it’s nice that they are feeling so much more comfortable around me. On the 31st we’re going pumpkin picking and then we have a costume parade around the school. I can’t wait to see them all dressed up. Us teachers had the option to dress up too, but after trying on several outfits I became discouraged (everything is tight around my belly). I went to Old Navy and bought a cute little witch shirt which I’m going to wear that day instead.

This weekend we had dinner with friends on Friday night at Applebee’s. They have these new Dessert Shooters, which are fantastic (I recommend the hot fudge sundae)! I also tried their new cheese & dipping bread appetizer…it was like heaven!! Yesterday we went bowling with Tony’s engineering friends from college. I sat out after the second frame ‘cause I was exhausted! It was a good time though. It’s always nice getting together with people who are cheerful and look at life with such optimism. Plus – I scored over a 100 on my first game!! I haven’t done that in years, it really made my night.

Tony & I have a list of things that we’d like to do around the house before Baby G arrives. I started packing up all of the books I had sitting on the shelves in the guest room. We’re going to make that the baby room, so its time for me to put away my things. We’ve also started some demo work in the laundry room (Tony started it this morning). We’re going to enclose the hot water heater & other things (big scary machines I don’t know the names of) behind an accessible wall, and move the door to our downstairs bathroom to the other side. After all of that we’re going to do some painting in the bathroom and laundry room, then retile the floors. It’s a big job that we’ve been putting off, but we’d like to try and get it done now so that it’ll be one less thing were trying to finish before Baby G arrives.

Today I’m taking it easy. Very tired from such a big weekend. Am just working on some lesson plans and classroom decorations while I cook a nice pot roast for dinner. A couple more hours until the Eagles game! Go Birds!!!

Tony took a picture of me a few minutes ago while I was starting the pot roast. It’s not very clear, but you can see the belly! I thought I’d post it for everyone to see.

We’re halfway through week 11 now…I hope this week flies by just like this past week did. Every week that goes by makes me feel a little less nervous about the “M” word. I can’t wait for the second trimester to start!

Tony's Evening Project

This is just about the funniest thing I have ever seen.

http://www.jibjab.com/starring_you/receipt/1442034

Enjoy!!

Growing Nicely... (10/12)

I had an ultrasound today!!

I was concentrating on looking for the heartbeat when all of a sudden the baby “bounced.” Thinking it was my eyes playing tricks I looked again and “bounce” went the baby. I asked the Doc what was going on and she told me that the baby has hiccups!! Awwwww, poor Baby G!!! I knew I shouldn’t have eaten that yogurt so quickly before my appointment!

The heart is beating at a steady 165. Which is very exciting! There is something so cool about watching your little one’s heart beating. It’s very reassuring as well.

The Doc also noticed that I have a tiny knot of muscle scarring in the wall of the cervix. I already knew about this since I had LEAP surgery several years ago, but I had to ask if this could somehow affect my pregnancy. The Doc assured me that she didn’t think it would be a problem and that the worst that could potentially happen is that my cervix will not open at the end of my pregnancy. So basically, I would have to have a cesarian birth instead of vaginal. That’s just fine by me. As long as the baby stays put ‘til he or she is ready to come out, I will do whatever it takes.

Speaking of He or She – I had my first baby dream last night. In the beginning of the dream, I was at a house in the Poconos getting ready to leave for the night – when I remembered I had to go get the baby out of the crib. I went and picked the baby up – and immediately I knew it was a boy. I could feel his soft skin and see his light brown hair. I even called him by his name (no I’m not revealing the name). Then the dream was sort of “fast-forwarded” to a restaurant where several members of my family were enjoying dinner – along with my friends Lori and Lauren. We were laughing and enjoying ourselves when I had to change the baby’s diaper. Even in my dream I couldn’t escape a yucky poop diaper, but rest assured…it was definitely a boy in the dream. There could be lots of reasons why I dreamt of a boy but my favorite is a friend who mentioned some women have “premonition” dreams while they are pregnant. So I guess we will just have to wait and see if my dream is true! I don’t care either way. It was so much fun having that dream!

And now – for the Ultrasound picture. In the picture you can see the head and body as well as the arms and legs. SO cool! Enjoy Baby G’s latest pic!!

Better Be Growing A... (10/10)

Tony really cracks me up sometimes. We were sitting watching television tonight when I told him to say hello to my belly. So he said "Hello", then jokingly followed it up with "You better be making a penis in there, I don't need another vagina." I laughed so hard I had tears in my eyes. Sometimes he can be downright hilarious!

Thats all for today - just wanted to share his "funny" with you all.

Hormonal Rage....oops! (10/9)

It’s been Forever since I’ve written… sorry, my bad. It seems lately that when I’m not working, I’m sleeping…and when I’m not sleeping, I’m thinking about taking a nap. Vicious cycle that I’m told should ease up some time in my fourth month.

Last weekend was very exciting. Saturday night we went to my good friend Doug’s wedding – where I got to see many of this wonderful friends (whom I haven’t seen in years) & I got to see him and his new beautiful bride Ashley on their first day as husband and wife. We had an absolute blast. I remember dancing with Tony during one of the slow songs (Journey’s “Open Arms”) and thinking about my life. I was momentarily overcome with such joy that I almost started to cry. I’m pregnant. I’ve now been pregnant for almost 10 weeks – which isn’t that long, but already I feel like my entire life has changed for the better. I keep feeling like I must be the luckiest woman in the world. I have to admit that I was starting to give up hope (just a little bit) – and now – I get to have a baby!! I’m so happy and so in love with my belly.

On Sunday we went to our friends Steve and Danelle’s daughter Lauren’s 2nd birthday party. I can’t believe she is two!! I swear time just flies by. We spread the news around about the baby. (To be honest my belly is already showing a bump…so it was either let them think I’m getting fat…or tell our amazing news) A few of our friend’s husbands have predicted that I will be having a girl. I’m not entirely sure what they are basing this prediction on…but both Steve and Castle seem to think it’ll be a She. I cannot wait for Christmas to get here so we can find out if they are right! I honestly don’t care what the sex of our baby is – I’m just hoping he or she will be healthy.

I had a bit of hormonal rage today. Almost from the start of my pregnancy, I have been craving Cheeseburgers - which for me is a little strange. I’m the kind of girl who would rather have a hot dog than a burger any day… but low and behold suddenly I NEED to have Cheeseburgers, as many & as much as possible. (I even tried to get Tony to stop on the way home from Doug’s wedding just to get me a juicy cheeseburger). So today on my way home from work I stopped at McD’s. I ordered two Plain Double Cheeseburgers from the $ menu. Instead I received two cheese-less double burgers with everything on it. GROSS!! I’m sorry – but I don’t know how people can eat a burger with everything on it – it makes me gag. I was so mad at the McD’s people that I went in there and gave them a piece of my mind. I asked how hard it is to read – then followed it up with calling the burger maker person a moron. Anyone reading this knows that this isn’t exactly in my nature. I’m not the kind of person who makes waves… but today when my burgers were wrong…all hell broke loose. I’ve had little spurts of hormonal rage but this was the first time that I actually had to talk myself out of throwing something and cursing. Looking back now I just have to shake my head at myself and laugh. At least in the end I got the correct cheeseburgers! HaHaHaHa.

I go for my next doc appointment on Friday and I am super excited. I’m pretty sure I get to have another ultrasound! Woohoo!! Can’t wait to see my baby!

Also - this weekend is my Steltz Family Reunion. I was excited but also slightly bummed. I didn't think Carrie would be able to make it - but she's driving up with her friend Lauren & I am soooo excited! I hate being away from my little sis. She's the best. We're not going to tell the family that she's coming so it'll be a nice little surprise for them. Now Tony & I just have to decide whether we tell our little secret or wait until Halloween (which has been our plan all along). I guess we'll see!