25 Weeks And Counting...

Just thought I would give a little update about Ben, Mom, family, new babe since I have been picture heavy on the blog for several months.

Ben is 14 months old now and has definitely left babyhood for the more challenging toddlerhood!! He has quickly learned to exert his will, how to whine for optimum annoyance, and how to destroy whatever it is he shouldn't be playing with in the first place LOL...he is still a total doll and a joy though. His intellectual development is so interesting to see. He understands what we say, he understands requests, he can "play" jokes, he can communicate. He still eats like a champ with a particular love of meat! Strange huh? He will eat any kind of meat (even enjoyed lamb at Nonno and Nonna's house.....something *I* won't eat LOL). He has a budding obession with cars/vehicles. Is deathly afraid of elephants and vaccums. And would do just about anything to play outside.

I am getting by. This pregnancy has been particularly hard and I have been just taking things one day at a time and trying to stay busy. I am 25 weeks and feel like the next 15 weeks can't go fast enough and yet I feel totally unprepared!! I just took my second and last 1hr. glucose test today. I passed the first with flying colors and expect this one to be the same. The pregnancy itself is going very well and uneventful. I have once a month ultrasounds now and the baby looks perfect and healthy. At my last U/S, two weeks ago, Annabella weighed 1lb 6oz and was measuring perfect for her dates. Next U/S in two weeks. I am hoping she will be roughly the same size as Ben at birth. I have just about all the clothes a newborn little girl could possible want thanks to some sales, a thrift store and my very generous sister-in-law who past on all of my nieces clothes!

Claudio has been a heroic husband dealing with a crazy pregnant lady!! LOL...He is gearing up for gardening. He has a heap of various seeds sprouting in our basement and yard and our water barrels set up to collect rainwater. He survived a few rounds of layoffs at his company and we are praying that the layoffs are done now.

So You Think You Can Dance?

Deep in Conversation

A Day At The Park

A few weekends ago we had a beautiful Sunday and Grandma was visiting with us so we decided to take a trip to the park.


Ben loves the swings!

I am so grateful for my loving husband and my little family.

There's Grandma!!

One of those precious little father/son moments.

Three generations :)

23 Weeks Pregnant

Well here I am at 23 weeks looking rather huge if you ask me! I am carrying SOO different than with Ben. I am not sure I even looked pregnant at 23 weeks with Ben and when I finally did show he was just a big ball right up front. Anna is niiiiceeee and spread out. LOL Also I am growing my nice honker of a pregnancy nose. Not sure how common this is but my nose tends to get huge during pregnancy LOL..I look like Gonzo!!

We're Off and Running Now!!

Before very recently Ben has never worn shoes with soles. And many generous people have given us a HEAP of hand me down shoes (that look like brand new!) but not a single pair was in his size (he is on the small side). I tried the ones that were closest to his size and it was as if his feet were suddenly encased in cement and it was followed by much whining, crying and frustration.

Today we went on a trip to the Goodwill thrift store just for a reason to get out of the house. When we walked in the door we saw these adorable little orange sneakers in just the right size and they were brand new from the Children's Place!! But wait!! It gets better!!! They were marked at $2.99, but it turned out they were on sale for 50% off!! So they cost us $1.50!!

These shoes he took to almost immediately and he has been off and running ever since!

For about a moment I was concered about orange sneakers rarely matching his clothes, but then I decided they would match his hair every day! ;)

Sometimes A Little Boy...

Just needs his mommy...

and sometimes his daddy...

Ben Got Some New Duds Too

These are just a few outfits Ben got for his birthday. Couldn't help trying them on and getting a few pics :)

I Couldn't Resist!!

So we made a little trip to Kohls and Target....you know...just to SEE if there were any good deals ya know. Now I wouldn't say I am frugal...I am downright CHEAP and I still couldn't resist getting all of these ADORABLE outfits for Annabella (and before some kind soul makes a comment about season/size I got a variety of sizes and seasons).

Ben's First Haircut

Well, we had actually cut Ben's mullet off just before his first birthday. I loved his shaggy bangs, but they were starting to drive him bananas. I just can't see paying to have someone else give my son a bad haircut when I can give him a bad haircut myself!

Definitely a challenge to cut the hair of a moving target!!

The bangs came out a little short (because a certain grandma kept insisting they were still hanging in his eyes LOL). But otherwise pretty successful!

The finished product.

Doesn't he look all grown up now!!

We're Having A......

GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

Annabella Katherine will be her name. 19 week ultrasound went great. Everything was growing as it should and baby looks nice and healthy. I will have monthly ultrasounds from here on out.....which I loooveeee. Sometimes being high risk has its benefits ;)

Ben's Birthday Party!!

At last here we are. Here is Ben's birthday party with my family (Cla's family party has yet to happen since I got sick).


Benjamin with Grandpa Bob!


Ben with Grandpa Bob and Grandma Judi. Look at his little skamp face! You can just see the whipper snapper in him!


Ben with Grandma Joanne.


Ben getting to know his little cousin Kyleigh.


Uncle Travelling Matt!


Ben got a lot of wonderful presents. Generally Ben looks putting things in boxes and bags and doesn't so much get the taking things out so I really did most of the present opening :)




Uncle Matt got Ben two wonderful Shel Silverstein books!



And then we opened the fire engine and basically all other gifts disappeared in Ben's eyes! A month later and several batteries and it is still a favorite for Ben...although he still doesn't get the idea of sitting on it and riding it. He just pushes it around and presses all the buttons.



The Cow Jumped Over the Moon cake! :) Lots of yummy blue frosting!

Mommy and Daddy helping Ben blow out his candles.

Uncle Matt being silly :)


And the blue feast begins!!

And our sleepy, well frosted Birthday boy. :)

Ben's Very Last Bottle of Formula

Behold!! Ben's very last bottle of formula!! Boy is my pocketbook happy about this, but indeed it is another of those bittersweet moments.

Obviously it has been a while since I have updated the blog. This actually occurred the beginning of February right after his birthday party (hence the mess...and that post IS forthecoming). Life has been a bit hairy around here including a tough bout with the flu and a two day stay at the hospital for mommy. But we are working on getting back into the swing of things and updating the blog...before those fleeting moments fleet ;)

So as for Ben, he is off formula and drinking whole milk. Not to get all TMI-ish on you but his chronic constipation has basically cleared with end of the formula!! We have found the sippy cup to be a BIT of a learning curve for Ben, but he is catching on at his own rate. I just couldn't give up the before bed snuggle/bottle so he does still get a bottle once a day....hopefully that will last until he leaves for college ;)