Kind of ridiculous...

...how many pictures I'm posting here...sorry! I got a new camera from Mike's parents for Christmas, so I've been taking a crazy amount of pictures to try to figure out all of the features and functionality. I love it! I figured I better post these before I collect anymore!

Here are some pictures from Christmas...eve, morning, and day! Most of these presents are from Papa and Nana to Ben and they stayed at their house for when he plays over there. I was grateful, as our house is quickly turning into a Toys R Us.

Just a little Daddy and Benny fun...

He kept taking down his stocking and wearing it on his legs...goofball!

I had no idea he would like this gift so much. It's a LeapFrog Karaoke Sing-a-long/Read-a-long DVD with books (teaches vowel sounds and basic reading skills). He has watched it probably seven or eight times since Christmas and knows all the characters and storylines already. At least it's educational...right? :)

Ok...no more pictures for now!! My whole family arrives tomorrow though...so that won't last long! :)

An "old train engine" and some doggie slippers...

We've had a fun Christmas with Ben this year (still more to come!). We celebrated Christmas Eve with Mike's family at his parent's house (Nana and Papa), Christmas morning with just the three of us, then more time with Papa, Nana, Uncle Brad and the rest of his family on Christmas day. We are looking forward to celebrating the New Year with my family (Grammy and Pops), when they all travel here next week to visit for a few days (my doc wouldn't let me fly to Missouri this late in my pregnancy). I used Papa and Nana's camera on Christmas Eve and I haven't gotten the pictures off of their card yet...so I guess those will come later!

Ben is VERY blessed to have so many people in his life who give SO generously to him and this Christmas was no exception (I feel like this is a major understatement...it will be good for him to have a sister to share some of the "spotlight" and presents with!). He received lots of fun presents from all his great-grandparents and from Papa, Nana and Brad. He also got just what he wanted from Santa...an "old train engine" (ok..so it was from Wal-Mart and we already have to do a return/exchange due to the cheapness factor...but Santa tried!) and some doggie slippers! He got some other fun stocking stuffers too...like Handy Manny underwear...woo hoo! :)

Here he is opening his "choo choo" from Santa. On the evening of the 23rd we were getting into the car after one of Mike's basketball games and Ben saw the train box in the far back of my car (I completely forgot that Mike had hidden it there...great hiding place?!). Well, of course he was asking if it was for him and if he could open it when we got home. I said it was for someone else (yes, I lied!) and that if he was good, Santa might bring him one too (oh the joys of dealing with a three-year-old!). He cried for 20 minutes and I felt like crap, but all turned out ok on Christmas morning....as you'll see in the video below.

How Many Kings?

This song pretty much sums up my thoughts on the season. The video is nothing spectacular, but the words are just so moving and really make me appreciate and remember what God did for us when He sent His Son.

I wish each of you a very merry and blessed Christmas with your families (especially you...Heidi, Mark, Ava and sweet baby Kaiya...I hope tomorrow is a wonderful day for you guys to spend together at HOME, as a family...God is good!).

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat...

Or we could just substitute "the goose" for Ali and that would work too! :) I only have about 40 days until my due date...wow! At my check-up this week I was told that Natalie weighs (according to the very accurate ultrasound measurements...note sarcasm)...5 lbs 11 oz. Does that seem big to anyone else? I'm just imagining her head being in the 75th percentile like her big brother and I'm getting a little nervous! :)

Anyway, I feel like we've been so busy the last couple of weeks, but I can't figure out what all we've been doing?! This time of year just always feels crazy. I haven't taken many pictures lately, so I thought I'd post a collage of Ben's Christmas picture from his very first, through this year. It was fun to look at how he's changed...still cute as ever, if you ask me! :)

Ben had his Christmas concert at preschool a couple of weeks ago. He did a great job during the first concert he performed in back in the Fall, but this one was a different story. It was in the evening and he hadn't had a nap. Plus, he was very distracted by the "jingle bells" they were given to ring during the performance. Apparently they didn't practice the hand motions with the bells...because he couldn't multi-task. :) This video is not the greatest (or maybe it's the peformance?), so I'll be very impressed if you actually know what it is that they are singing...but listen closely at about seconds 35-39 and you'll hear my little munchkin (front row, center, striped blue/white shirt) YELLING the words to the song above everyone else. I just watch those few seconds over and over and laugh. He's destined to be a star. Ha!

30 years of life!

Today is Mike's big day...he turns 30! It sounds so old (only have five more months until I'm there...whoa!). I've known him and loved him for almost a third of his life! Time flies! I just thought I'd let you all go on a "walk down memory lane" with this post. There are a lot (and I mean a lot!) of pictures here from his childhood all the way through our college years together and the early daddy years. He was just such a cute kid...I couldn't cut much out!

Mick, I love you and I love sharing my life with you. You are a WONDERFUL daddy to Ben (and soon Natalie) and you love me, even when I'm a pain (and extremely hormonal...which says a lot!). There are so many things I love about you...the way you put your family first...the pride you take in your coaching and the way you treat the kids...the goofy comments you make that I don't really want to laugh at, but can't help it...the way you treat Benny...your willingness to "put up" with many of my requests (well, at least most of the time)...the way you get over things so quickly...your willingness to admit when you are wrong...and the list goes on! Basically, I like you and I think you're cool. Thanks for being my guy. Hope you have a very, happy 30th!

Here he is as a little guy...lovely 1979 decor! What kid has two mobiles above their crib? :)

Do you see the resemblance between him and Ben in any of these photos?

Some lovely high school and college shots...don't worry, the mohawk didn't last long!

The dating years...

Finally, the daddy years begin...

30 years well spent!

Silent night...

Benny and I were watching different videos on YouTube this afternoon and we came across this music video of "Silent Night" by Sixpence None the Richer. We probably watched it five times in a row and Ben would tell me the whole story of Jesus' birth. It was neat to see that he really understands the Christmas story and the real significance of this holiday that is so easily overshadowed by everything else (presents, Santa, etc.).

As I was listening to this song for probably the hundredth time (or more) in my life, I couldn't help but think of my friends, Heidi and Mark, and their baby girl, Kaiya. Just thinking of little Kaiya, literally, "sleeping in heavenly peace" in that hospital bed gave me such peace myself. I can't imagine how people get through something like Heidi and Mark are going through without a personal relationship with Christ. I thank God that they have such strong faith through this whole ordeal. I thank God that he is giving them positive news, little by little, about their baby girl's health. I rest knowing that God's plan is always better than any other plan we, as humans, could come up with. I know he is holding Kaiya in His arms as she fights this battle and I trust that He will use her life and this situation to witness to others.

I hope you hear this song through "new ears" this Christmas. I know I have. Thank you, God, for sending your Son.

Prayer request...

Please keep my dear friend Heidi's family in your prayers, specifically her sweet newborn, Kaiya, who is currently in the ICU dealing with bacterial meningitis. Pray for the next 48 hours as they hope and pray for improvements in their sweet baby girl. Pray for "peace that passes understanding" as Mark and Heidi go through this. Pray for big sister, Ava, still only a baby herself, as she can not be with her mom, dad and sister during this time. Thank you!

To keep updated, please check out their blog... http://dekorne.blogspot.com/2008/12/sad-day.html

Hospital care page... http://www.carepages.com/carepages/Kaiya (you'll have to create an account)

New rooms!

Over the past couple of months we've been working on decorating Ben's new "big boy room" and modifying his "baby" room for his sister. Below are some pictures of both rooms.

Ben picked out this bear bedding at Target and we created the rest of the room around it. I really love the way it turned out. My mom made the "Ben" pillow, small patchwork pillow, fleece throw (at the end of the bed), and the curtain box. She painted the whole room when she visited in October too! The "border" is actually individually painted squares...it's my favorite part! The words on the wall are from one of Ben's favorite books with the same title.

Here is the baby's room! Like I said, this used to be Ben's baby room, so to "girl it up" a bit we added the pink stripe to the wall, a pink sheet, and tried to get rid of some of the more boyish stuff. My mom, again, made the bedding, curtain boxes, small quilt on the wall, etc (all when Ben was born). You probably can't tell from these pictures, but everything is a vintage Pooh bear print. It was neutral enough that it worked for a boy or girl. Finally, I don't think I've officially announced her name until now...but it's going to be Natalie...each letter below has a Pooh character on it. :)

Santa Claus is coming to town...

We spent the morning at Westfield (my work) where they were holding a Polar Express Christmas event for employees and their families. The kids were encouraged to wear their pj's just like the children on the movie (which Ben LOVES...he knows the words to most of the soundtrack). Ben had fun making snacks for Santa's reindeer, playing in the gingerbread house, and visiting Santa. He wouldn't look Santa directly in the eyes, but he did ask for an "old train engine" and some doggie slippers. I have no clue where he came up with these requests?! :)

"The psycho"

It's no secret to those who have been around me lately...I'm extremely hormonal (Mike just tells me I'm psycho...to put it nicely). I'm ultra-sensitive right now and I'm driving myself nuts and probably everyone around me! This pregnancy is SO different from my pregnancy with Ben. I felt so even-keeled, emotion wise, during those nine months, even with all of the medical issues I had (ruptured appendix at 18 weeks, gall bladder issues causing early contractions around seven mths, etc). I've heard every pregnancy is different...and boy do I believe it now.

I've been in bed for the last hour, but couldn't fall asleep...just a million things running through my head...I felt the need to vent...so, lucky you! I am approaching 32 weeks and just feel overwhelmed with life (as a result of the aforementioned hormones...which make me irrational...regardless, I still feel the way I feel!). I feel like everything at work is really piling up right now! I am ending 2008 and have all kinds of things to wrap up over the next two to three weeks, but I'm also planning for 2009 and have coworkers to "train" to do my job while I'm out on leave. As I'm writing this, I realize how silly it sounds. Why do I lie awake at night thinking about this stuff? It's all important to me and I really do take pride in my job. It's my nature to want to do my best and perform well and have everything be just right...but I know it's not as important as my baby or my Ben or Mike. I just wish I could not care right now...but I do...therefore, I stress.

Anyway, I realize this is completely boring and why I'm posting it for you all to read is beyond me...but I blame it on hormones. I blame everything on them these days and so far it's gotten me off the hook for lots of bad behavior! :) I realize there are people out there, probably some of you, who are dealing with far, far, far worse situations than anything I am complaining about. I should be grateful and most of the time I am...but right now...I'm tired and stressed and hormonal...so, sorry for the rant!

I guess I just need to remind myself of the verse below from 1 Corinthians. I like this version from The Message. I think I'll print it and hang in on my desk at work and somewhere here at home too.

"No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

I actually feel better after writing this all out...like, at least for the moment, I put things back in perspective. I'm sure I'll relapse...but maybe now I can fall asleep. I'll leave you with a belly shot...here she is...the reason her Mommy is affectionately referred to now as "the psycho." I really can't wait to meet her and have all this behind me.