My New Life...10 Days In

Before Blake arrived, I felt like I had everything in order. My house was clean and organized, the nursery was stocked and ready to go. I felt rested (or as rested as I could be) and I was ready to start my new life.

So...how do I feel now, 10 days into my new life as a mommy of two? Lets start with the obvious...

Tired. 

I'm pretty sure this is a given, but I thought I would mention it anyway because this is a WHOLE new level of tired for me. If I could go back in time and talk to myself 10 days after having Addie, I would tell my "overly tired" self to enjoy this time. All I had to do for the first 10 days was lay on the couch and nurse Addie when she was hungry and stare at her while she slept. I didn't have another human being needing my care and attention. I don't get to just lay around and love on Blake (although I still feel like I do plenty of that), I also have to love on Addie and give her the attention she deserves right now. Luckily, Addie has been fantastic about all of this. She has had lots of visitors and quality time with Nana and Papa to keep her entertained, but today was my first day on my own with the two kids and she was great. She did have a few whiney moments but lets be honest...she had those before she had a baby brother :-) She is very sweet and nurturing and I think those qualities help her process all of this. And, I thank God every day that she is a good sleeper at night now because I couldn't imagine being up with two of them every night. Kris...I will say it again...you are my hero with those twins :-)

Disorganized.

This is just hilarious to me, considering how much time I spent getting organized before Blake arrived. I really thought I had everything I needed. But two days in, I realized I only had 2 newborn size sleepers (I guess I thought Blake would be bigger or something), I was down to my last package of wipes (I usually buy them in bulk at Target), we were down to half a gallon of milk in the fridge AND I had left a load of laundry in the washer when we left for the hospital. They were wet towels. SICK! How did this happen? How could I have thought I was so organized? And my house is absolutely trashed now and I guess it is a good thing I am so tired because it makes me just a tad less O.C.D. Ha!

Emotional.

I think doctors call it "baby blues" when mom's come home and can't help crying all the time. I can't say that I have been crying all the time, but I have definitely been super emotional. For example, I cried 4 times today. I cried when I woke up and realized that all of my favorite sweat pants were in the dirty laundry at the same time. I cried again when I watched Addie run to Blake when she got up just so she could give him a kiss on the head. So freaking sweet. I cried when I watched the Humane Society commercial during naptime. And I cried this evening when I couldn't decide what to eat for dinner. I guess I could blame all this on "baby blues" or hormones or whatever...but I think I have cried for all these reasons before so maybe it doesn't count.

Anemic.

I have always had low iron and been anemic on and off since I was a teenager. Obviously, pregnancy makes me very susceptible to this because the baby is getting all of my nutrients. My iron wasn't too low this pregnancy, but after losing blood during surgery and breastfeeding 24/7, you can imagine how anemic I am right now. This usually isn't a big deal but being sleep deprived on top of it is not so good. So I am back on iron pills which is SO not fun because of the belly issues that go along with taking those. Yuck! My mom and I have started researching some other ways to incorporate more iron into my diet but if any of you have suggestions or ideas...I would really appreciate them. Because seriously, unless it is on a pizza, I freaking hate spinach :-)

Determined.

I am determined to make Blake a good sleeper (even though he seems to be quite the night owl at the moment). I read every sleep book out there and found "Healthy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child" and "Happiest Baby on the Block" to be the two most effective when it came to sleep training Addie. Now I know that every baby is different and I know I can't really make Blake a good sleeper...but I am DETERMINED to try. I even bought into something that I am hoping works as good as everyone says it does. My friend Amy recommended the Miracle Blanket and I just received it in the mail today.

Apparently this blanket is suppose to work miracles in the sleep department and since Blake already likes being swaddled, I thought I would give it a shot. Thanks for the suggestion Amy! I hope it works as well for us as it did for you!

Unstylish.

I know this will change once I am no longer house bound with the kiddies, but I feel SO unstylish. I have lived in comfy pants, a bath robe and slippers for over a week now. Now don't get me wrong, I love being in comfy clothes. I especially love these Smartdog slippers my mom bought me as a coming home gift. They are seriously the warmest, most comfortable slippers ever. I highly recommend :-)

But even though I love my comfy clothes, there comes a point where you just want to feel cute again. I want to wear jeans and a sweater with a scarf. Hell...I just want to wear anything that isn't maternity! I have a feeling I will be pretty decked out for my first trip to Target. Ha!

Surprised.

I am truly surprised by how much easier my recovery has been this time around. I know a lot of people told me that their second c-section was much easier than their first and they were right. I remember still having a hard time getting up and down at 10 days postpartum but this time around, I feel like I can do it with a lot more ease. Although, I don't really have a choice this time because like I said...I don't get to sit around all day like last time. Maybe all the movement has helped or maybe my body is just more use to the process. Either way, I am very thankful for this.

Boobilicious.

I knew I wanted to breastfeed again this time around and it felt nice not having to worry about whether or not I could do it. After nursing Addie for as long as I did, I kind of felt like a pro in this department. And maybe that confidence has something to with how well Blake has taken to nursing. He is a pro now too and he is only 10 days old! This makes me very, VERY happy because breastfeeding can be a very challenging task, especially when you have to deal with the first few weeks. Sorry to anyone for this next part, it may be TMI, but I am going to say it anyway. My boobs are ginormous. I mean seriously freaking huge. Like, can't even fit into the nursing bras I bought. Eric thinks this part is fantastic. He even said, "Wow...its like you had a boob job! Is it fun walking around with those?" Fun? Does he think that walking around with two rock hard melons is fun? Or having a little baby practically suck your sore tender nipples off every 2 hours? Or waking up with a wet shirt because your so-called no-leak nursing pads failed once again? Yeah babe. Its freaking awesome!

Paranoid.

I honestly thought this would be different. I thought I wouldn't be such a germaphobe like I was when I had Addie. And maybe it has something to do with the flu season or the fact that almost everyone in my extended family has had the flu in the past two weeks, but I have become absolutely psycho about washing my hands, using Lysol on every solid surface in my house, wiping down Addie's toys nightly and making sure that no one is sharing any glasses in our house. I mean...even if I could get some sleep right now...I probably wouldn't because I am too worried about everyone getting sick. But I just have to say, for the record, that I am SO happy I got us all the flu shots this year. That won't be a question for me in years to come :-)

Overjoyed.

For nine months, I have prayed for a healthy baby. I prayed I would get through my pregnancy and delivery without any complications. I prayed I would be able to take home a beautiful, healthy baby boy. And God DEFINITELY answered my prayers with this little guy :-)

In Love.

I didn't think it was possible to love Addie more than I already did, but somehow I do. Seeing her interact with Blake and take on this very motherly role has been so special to me. She wants to do everything I do and it is just precious. When I change Blake's diaper, she changes her baby's diaper on the floor. When I feed Blake, she grabs her baby and feeds him too. I know this swing is not made for a 27 pounds toddler, but when she hopped in to feed her baby, I didn't have the heart to take her out :-)

And then there is this guy. The new man in my life, who acts more like a 3 month old than a newborn. He is SO alert when he is awake and SO interested in everything around him. He rarely cries and even though I refer to him as a night owl, it isn't because he is up screaming. He is just up hanging out. He wants me to talk to him and look at him and hold him. And even though I am EXHAUSTED...how can you deny a face like that?

I know this was a very long post to answer a very simple question but you know me. I am a talker (or writer) and it has been a while since I spent time on this blog. Now, since both of my babies are sleeping, I am going to sign off for the night. Take care everyone and have a very restful night!!!

A Quick Update

See these two little peanuts?

Well I am happy to say that they are both still healthy. I am praying that after MUCH cleaning and disinfecting today (with the help of my fabulous mamacita), my house is free from germies. Or as much as it can be I guess. Also, Eric is feeling much better and even went to work today. Whew! Please stay away Flu...you suck!

* Photograph compliments of Uncle Ryan Photography. Will post more pics soon :-)

Quarantined

Hi friends! I received three e-mails this morning from people wondering if I was okay. I guess they figure if I can post 4 hours after giving birth, I should be able to post on a regular day. Ha!

Bad unfortunately...I have my hands a bit full. Now don't get worried...Addie and Blake and I are doing great!! Blake had his doc appointment today and he is already almost back to birth weight! He is a great little eater and I just love him to pieces...even when he doesn't sleep at night :-)

Addie is also great. She loves playing big sis and with all the visitors and friends we have had around lately, she has had MORE than enough attention. Although, she did wake up at midnight last night with a nightmare. It took a good hour and a half to get her back to sleep. It was a long night for all four of us :-(

But then the real kicker is that Eric woke up with the FLU this morning!!! There has a been a 24 hour bug traveling around and it managed to bite Daddy. Poor guy...it was NOT a good night. Luckily, he has been quarantined to our bedroom and I have already disinfected my entire house. Twice. So the kids and I are steering clear from him. Literally. I left his glass of water and lunch in front of the bedroom door and made him wait until we were on the other side of the house to open it. Haha! Whatever works. But if it isn't too much trouble, please say a little prayer that none of us get sick too. 

So that's the scoop friends! I just don't have the energy to come up with a clever post right now. I have a baby, toddler, and husband to take care of all while healing myself. So I may need a day or two bloggy break. But don't worry...once we are all healthy and back to normal...I will be back with lots of fun posts, including a photo shoot with Uncle Ryan :-) Take care of everyone and send all your healthy vibes my way!

Happy Birthday Uncle Kevin...A Little Belated

Thanks to a nasty bought of flu and all the chaos of Blake's arrival, poor Uncle Kevin's birthday came and went this year :-( But to make up for it, we had a little belated birthday celebration for him tonight. Here is the Birthday boy, Grandma and all the kiddies...

The girls hadn't seen each other in over a week (which is a long time for them) and they wouldn't leave each other's side. 

Well...that is until the french silk pie came out.

Who do you think liked Uncle Kevin's pie the best?

I'll give you one guess...

We hope you had a happy birthday Uncle Kevin!!! Love you lots!!!

Oh How Things Have Changed

Oh how things have changed!! I remember when New Years Eve was all about finding the perfect outfit and the perfect place to go out. Now don't get me wrong...I still hope there are a few NYE cocktail parties in my future. But for now...I can't think of a better way to spend the evening then in my jammies with my 3 favorite people...

We also had a nice visit with Aunt Dana before she went home to spend her New Years Eve the same way :-)

New Years Day was a lot more of the same for us. Lots of cuddling, playing tea party and looking at this cute little guy. Is it just me or does he already look bigger than yesterday?!

I hope everyone had a great holiday!! Back to reality tomorrow :-)

Home Sweet Home

I can't begin to describe how WONDERFUL it feels to be home today! It was the longest morning in history waiting for the doctors to come and give us the okay to leave. So...we killed time by taking a few going home pics...

I thought about Addie our entire drive home. I wondered if she would cry when she saw us, if I would cry when I saw her, if she would understand who Blake was, etc. And in all the scenarios in my head, I never imagined I would witness love at first sight...

Addie could not wait to touch her baby brother. She ran right to us on the couch and wrapped her little arms around him...

We all kept trying to call her name so that she would look at the camera but she couldn't take her eyes of Blake. She was totally and completely in love him.

At one point she even looked up at me like "is this my baby"?

She tried taking Blake off my lap (probably so she could go put him in her baby bed) but when I told her that he had to stay with mama, she just held his hand a little longer.

That of course only satisfied her a minute so we decided to let her hold Blake by herself.

She was so gentle and delicate with him and when we asked her to give him a kiss, she slowly rolled him to her and kissed him on the cheek. That is where the tears started flowing for me :)

Here she is watching to make sure no one took him from her just yet. We have the CUTEST video of this moment that I promise to post at some point. She was telling him about Howie and pointing to him on the floor. It was just precious.

So that is how our family of 3 became a family of 4 today. Addie is in love with her brother and I have a feeling that she is going to be the best big sister in the world. My heart is just bursting. This will certainly be the happiest New Year of our lives :-)

Happy New Years to all!!!

What? You Want to See More Pics of Blake?

Then you are in luck!!! Bella Baby Photography came today and they got some ADORABLE pictures. Here are my favorites...

I was a little worried that the pics from today were not going to turn out because Blake was starting to get hungry when the photographer was there. You can see him on the verge of tears in the family pic :-) But luckily, these photographers are experts and they still managed to get some really cute pictures. I especially love the ones in the little hat my mom knitted. That could seriously be the cover of a knitting book don't you think? Ha!

As you may have guessed, Addie did not come up to the hospital today. There were lots of reasons why we decided it was best to wait and one of those reasons was validated for me when I heard a little girl crying in the hallway because she didn't want to leave her mama. That would have just broken my heart!!! So at least when Addie meets Blake tomorrow...Mommy will be there and she won't be leaving any time soon :-) Yay!!! Can't wait to get home!!

Just What We Needed

If you hadn't noticed, I was a big ball of energy yesterday. I was a multi-tasker...talking, nursing, cuddling, healing, blogging, texting, facebooking and smiling all at the same time. I know this had a lot to do with my adrenaline and the fabulous cocktail of pain meds they had me on :-)

But today was a little different. I traded in my IV and a few other uncomfortable post-op necessities for a fantastic shower and the ability to move around my room without a million cords hanging from me. But with the IV went the great pain meds. Boo! And, poor Mr. Blake had to have an "adjustment" made to his man-parts so he wasn't the happiest camper either :-( I realized at that moment just what we both needed...

So that is how we spent a lot of our day today. Sleeping, nursing and cuddling. But in between those moments, we had a great visit from Auntie Tara...

Auntie Linsey...

And Uncle Joe (who brought me chocolates. YES!)

But now that we have had our fun for the day, it is time to get back to our rest. I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be another action packed day with more visitors and a photo shoot. AND...word on the street is that they might allow siblings in the hospital this week because of the holidays and if that is the case (we have been told several conflicting stories today) then Addie may be able to come up and see Mr. Blake!!!! I would love to see her because I miss her SOOOOO much. But I need to decide if our teeny tiny hospital room is the best place for Addie to meet her brother for the first time. I guess Eric and I will decide that tomorrow.

So...before I go for the night...I just want to say THANK YOU once again for all of your sweet comments. My blog got over 2,000 hits yesterday and I think that is just amazing. Blake has no idea how popular he already is :-) 

Can't Get Enough

I'll tell ya what...I just can't get enough of this little guy...

Do you know the part in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" where the Grinch's heart triples in size and then bursts out of his chest? Well...I know what that feels like now. And so does Eric. We are so completely in love with this little guy we can hardly contain ourselves!

And we aren't alone. First, Grandma and Grandpa Mueller fell in love...

Then Grandma and Grandpa Davis fell in love...

Then Uncle Ryan...

Then Aunt Meagan...

Then Aunt Diana...

Then Uncle Adam...

And then Aunt Dana and Uncle Kevin fell in love over the phone. They are BOTH suffering from the flu today so they couldn't come up to see Blake in person. But with all the pics we have taken today, I am sure they feel like they are here in spirit :-)

So...I am sure you are all wondering how little Miss Addie is doing. She spent the day with both her Nanas and they said she has been an absolute angel. I asked her on the phone today if she was excited to meet Blake and she just said "Uh huh!". I am dying to get these two together...my two little peanuts :-) Only two more days to wait. But in the meantime, I am going to get some rest (hopefully) and snuggle with my little guy. Thank you all for your sweet comments!! More to come tomorrow. 

Happiest Momma in the World!!!

Hi friends!!!! I just wanted to hop on for one second to say that I am the HAPPIEST MOMMA IN THE WORLD!!!!

Look at this beautiful little man...

He is absolutely perfect!!! The c-section was a breeze this time around and I feel wonderful. I am just on cloud nine and I can't thank you all enough for your prayers and well wishes. I will do my best to upload a few more pictures later after Blake has his first bath :-)

Blake has arrived!

This is Gramma Jan and I have the distinct pleasure of announcing the birth of my beautiful new grandson Blake!!! He weighed 7lb 11 oz and is 20" long and is ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!!! How can you fall in love with this little baby with one glance! Mommy and baby are doing well! We get to see Jen soon but Eric said she is doing great!

We are so blessed!

A Final Belly Pic Before the Big Day

I cannot BELIEVE this is my last belly shot! 39 weeks preggers. I swear it feels like yesterday I was breaking my pregnancy news to everyone and now I am only a DAY away from having Blake!!! Where did the time go?

This is by far my least flattering belly pic yet, but I am a day away from having a baby and lets get serious...I am no Giselle :-)

But if I've said it once I've said it a hundred times...meaty = healthy when it comes to babies. And I think it is safe to say that there is one meaty baby in there. Ha!

For weeks now, my mom and a few others have said that I look bigger in the belly this time around. I know that boys tend to be bigger and I do feel HUGE right now. But to be honest, I don't think my belly is much bigger than it was with Addie. I think it is just that I filled out all over the place with Addie (that's what sitting at a desk eating all day will do to you) and this time I seemed to have gained all my weight in the belly (that's what chasing a toddler all day long will do to you). So maybe that's it! But you can see for yourself. Here is my 39 week belly pic with Addie...

Since there is really no point in guessing when I will have Blake, maybe we could play a game of "Guess his weight"! I have added a poll to my right sidebar. And to help you make your decision, Addie was 6 pounds, 13 ounces when I had her at 39 weeks, 6 days. I will be having Blake at 39 weeks, 4 days so we are pretty close time wise. I guess only time will tell!!

So speaking of the big day, I am sure you are all wondering how and when you will find out about Blake's arrival. The good news is that I will have Internet access in the hospital so I will be sure to post at some point during my stay. But in the meantime, I have asked my mom to guest post so that she can share all the details when he arrives.

And that, my friends, will be the next time you hear from me! I have decided to take the day off from blogging tomorrow so that I can spend some quality time with Addie and Eric. I am going to miss my little peanut SO MUCH while I am in the hospital, but I know she is in excellent hands with her grandparents. Eric will also be taking time to come home and play with her so I'm not worried. Plus, this will give me some one-on-one time to bond with my new son. Gosh...that sounds so weird!!! My SON! Can you tell I am excited???!! I am also scared shitless...but luckily the excitement gets me through all that. All I can do at this point is hope and pray that Blake and I get through delivery safe and sound. Thanks to all of you who have already sent your well wishes for the big day. Your thoughts and prayers are very much appreciated :-) 

And on a parting note, I just want to thank you all so much for sharing this journey with me over the last nine months. It has been so much fun documenting all these exciting milestones. And the best part is...it is all just beginning!!! Stay tuned friends...Blake will be here shortly :-)

A Merry Christmas Indeed!

Let me just say...we had one EXCITING Christmas Day! No...Blake did not arrive, but there was a very happy baby surprise. But we will get to that later.

So here we are, Christmas morning. Addie wasn't out of bed two seconds and she knew right where to go...

An entire tree filled with gifts, and she heads for the one thing she has already seen...

Her dolly! Go figure :-)

Luckily, she sat dolly down long enough to open a few gifts.

And then when she was worn out, she stopped at her diner for some tea :-) It was SO CUTE watching her open gifts today. Too bad she wanted each individual item out of it's packaging before moving on to the next. That is why you see her tea set, Sugar doggie and a few other toys already out of their boxes. Ha!

And then from one spoiled household to another...we arrived at my in-law's bright and early for gifts and some delicious breakfast!

The girls couldn't even handle sitting in their highchairs with all the exciting gifts to open! Here is Daddy helping her try on her new princess backpack...

And here are Aunt Dana and Uncle Kevin opening some of their gifts...

And Nia Beanie smiling for the camera...

And Addie and Daddy playing around before we had to head home for naptime.

It is honestly a good thing that Addie took the long nap she did, because the excitement wasn't over yet. When we arrived at Eric's Aunt's house for dinner, a very special guest was their to greet all the kiddies!!!

I wasn't sure if Addie would go to Santa (especially after our mall incident) but I guess she couldn't resist another gift...

Or some more candy...

In fact ALL the kids managed to warm up to Santa and they even let us get close enough to take this picture...

It was a GREAT idea to contact Santa for an extra visit Aunt Dana. Way to go :-)

So...on to the baby surprise I was talking about earlier. See this little girl? That is Miss Audrey and she became a BIG SISTER TODAY!!!

Eric's cousin Katie (who was due the same day as me) woke up to a little Christmas surprise this morning...her water breaking!! She went to the hospital at 5:00 this morning and her little man arrived at 3:30 p.m. We have not had the chance to see him yet in person, but we do have the info. They named him Cole Christopher and he weighed in at 10 POUNDS, 1 OUNCE and was 23 INCHES LONG!!!!! And yes...she had him naturally and only pushed about 15 minutes. Katie is my hero :-)

So there you go...a little recap of our exciting day. It was a Merry Christmas indeed :-)

Twas the Night Before Christmas...

Well actually...by the time you read this post...it will be Christmas morning!!! Santa will have already come and you can expect to see a face much like this one...

Don't worry...I will be sure to post all about our Christmas Day festivities, including waking up to Santa. But for now...I thought I would give you a peak of our Christmas Eve!

My parents started a tradition of wearing our jammies to Christmas Eve a few years ago (after we had all moved out) and I honestly love any excuse to wear my PJs out of the house. Even Eric got into the spirit early this year and put his on after he got home from work. Then him and Addie spent some quality time cuddling :-)

And of course I wanted a little cuddling too...

After a lazy afternoon, we headed over to my parents house. It didn't take long for Addie to discover the presents and Grandma could not resist letting her open some early.

This box of goodies held her attention for about 20 minutes...

25 if you count walking her doggie...

But then my mom and dad couldn't take it anymore. They HAD to give her the big gift they have been dying to give her for months...

Her new American Girl dolly and Bed!! Yes...my Dad made the bed and my mom sewed the quilt and mattress to go with it. It is the CUTEST thing I have ever seen. Addie couldn't wait to tuck her new dolly under the covers...

But then she yanked her out so that she could go show Aunt Diana and Uncle Adam...

And then she tucked her back in and said "Night, night." I thought she might let her be for a second and play with the other 8 million toys she got...

But instead, she picked her dolly back up and got into bed with her. HA! I saw my Dad cringe when she sat down but the bed held up like a champ! And that's a good thing because I have a feeling this won't be the last time she climbs into bed with her dolly. HA!

An hour later, we did manage to find a new toy :-)

Of course, Addie wasn't the only one getting presents. Blake got a present too! A camo pair of pants and two matching onesies. Eric was lit up like a Christmas tree :-)

And while I am in the hospital, Addie will get to wear these great new jammies!!!

And after all the excitement, Addie was finally getting tired and decided to curl up with Aunt Diana and Uncle Adam.

When we got home, we had one last thing to take care of. Leaving milk and cookies for Santa.

As I type this, Addie is nuzzled all snug her bed, while visions of dollies and sugar cookies dance in her head. It was another fantastic Christmas Eve with my family and I am reminded once again how truly blessed I am :-) Thank you so much mom and dad! Love you both to pieces!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!!! 

Merry Christmas Eve!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE EVERYONE!!!!

Last night, we had a two-part Christmas celebration to kick off the weekend and it was SO MUCH FUN!! Addie was so excited to see everyone...

Although, I think she was more interested in the presents under the tree. Ha! Her favorite gift at the start of the night (with my mom's side of the family) was the Mickey Mouse M&M candy cane my Grandma got her. Here is Uncle Ryan showing her how it to open it...

She got tons of other great gifts from everyone, like a bunch of dress-up necklaces and headbands from my cousin Jill. But no matter what she opened or where she went...Mickey did not leave her hand...

My cousin Jill always gets so crafty with her gifts. She made Addie this precious box with her initial so she can keep all her dress-up stuff in it. She also painted the car and train for Blake's room...

And here are the newlyweds...giving Howie some love...

These are my cousin Scott's two boys, David and Charlie. As you can see, they couldn't wait to bust out their new Legos...

My cousin Jill and I taking our annual Christmas pic together...

My mama, Aunt Cathy and Grams smiling for their annual Christmas pic together...

It took at least 20 minutes to get the guys off the couch to take this family pic...

See what I mean...Slugs...

And another slug...

But after my mom's family left, it was time to move on to part two of the night. Meagan and Ryan will be traveling to Meagan's parents house today so we opened gifts with them last night. Addie got to go first of course...

And as usual, she was totally SPOILED!!! But my favorite gift of all was this Big Sister book...

Once it was our turn to open gifts, I became the giddy one because not only did my mom make all of us these BEAUTIFUL flannel quilts...but Meagan got us all Reisenthal collapsible baskets!!!! I guess "Santa" got my wish list :-)

My mamacita and Diana snuggling under her new quilt. Isn't it beautiful? I should have known my mom would make us all something great :-)

Christmas Parts 1 & 2 were so much fun...it makes me even more excited for tonight and tomorrow!!! I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!! 

Oh, and in case you were wondering, Mr. Blake seems to be holding out just fine. I think he likes being all warm and cozy. And, I am sure he is loving all the cookies I consumed last night too. HA! I hope you all have a great Christmas Eve!!!

Memories of Christmases Past...and a Survey!

I came across two cute Christmas posts yesterday and I thought I would borrow the ideas. Thanks Heather and Jen!

First up...a fun little Christmas Survey

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?

I definitely prefer wrapping paper and even if I use a gift bag, I usually wrap the gift inside of it. Ha!

2. Real tree or artificial? 

I have always wanted to get a real tree, but they seem like so much work! So we go with a fake tree complete with lights :-)

3. When do you put up your tree?

As soon as possible without getting too many crazy looks. After Halloween is over...I just pick the first free weekend I have. I like to celebrate Christmas and enjoy my decorations as long as possible.

4. Do you like eggnog?

No way Jose.

5. Favorite gift received as a child?

My parents bought me a Polaroid camera. I thought that was the COOLEST thing ever. I still have Polaroid pictures from the Christmas they gave it to me.

6. Do you have a nativity scene?

No I don't.

7. Hardest person to buy for?

My Husband.

8. Easiest person to buy for?

My mom. I always go over my limit on her :-)

9. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards?

Mail of course! I love sending and receiving snail mail.

10. Favorite Christmas movie?

This is a tough one. I would have to say "White Christmas" and "Christmas Vacation". Depends on my mood :-)

11. When do you start shopping for Christmas?

I am thinking about Christmas year-round and usually have a few gifts put away by the start of Fall.

12. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

Duh...COOKIES!!

13. Clear lights or colored lights on the tree?

Both. We have two trees and one has clear and the other has colored. I like variety.

14. Favorite Christmas song?

I love ALL Christmas music. I listen to the Charlie Brown Christmas CD in July sometimes. Ha! But my two favorite songs are "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" and "White Christmas" (sung by Bing of course).

15. Travel or stay home at Christmas?

We are lucky to be home for Christmas. My parents live 5 minutes away and my in-laws live 6 minutes away. It works out well because I would HATE to have to travel.

16. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?

Yes indeed! Only if I sing though.

17. Angel on tree top of star?

Angel. I have used the same one since I bought my Christmas tree for my first apartment.

18. Open presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning?

Both! We celebrate Christmas Eve with my family and then Christmas Day with Eric's family. Although, when we were kids, my mom and dad would let us open one gift on Christmas Eve and my brothers and I would get SO excited. I would like to keep that tradition going with Addie and Blake :-)

Yay! That was fun! Thanks again for the idea Heather! Okay...on to memories of Christmases past. I thought it would be fun to reflect on the Christmases that Eric and I have shared together.

CHRISTMAS 2005

This was our first Christmas together AND our first Tacky Christmas sweater party :-) We didn't have any kiddies yet, but as you can see...we were already a family.

CHRISTMAS 2006

This was a very special year for our family because not only did Eric and I get married in August, but my brother Adam married Diana in November! We had a crazy busy year so it was fun to celebrate the holidays and act as goofy as we felt :-)

CHRISTMAS 2007

This was technically Addie's first Christmas, although she wasn't around to open presents herself. But trust me...she got a ton anyway :-)

CHRISTMAS 2008

This was an amazing year for our family because we welcomed our first baby!! Although by Christmas, Addie wasn't much of a baby anymore. She was already saying "mama" and "dada" and trying to walk on her own.

And that brings us to CHRISTMAS 2009. I haven't posted a pic yet because obviously...Christmas is still a few days away! But I have a feeling this one is going to live in our memories forever since we will be receiving one of the most amazing gifts of our lives. Eric and I will have a son and Addie will have a baby brother. What more can you possibly ask for :-)

Well friends...tonight kicks off our family's 3-day Christmas celebration! It will consist of one family gathering after another. Most of the posts to follow will be in pictures, but that is more fun anyway :-) 

Just What Grandpa Has Been Waiting For...

Our first good snow of the season! My Dad built Addie this sled last year but because she was still pretty little and because we had a frigid winter...it didn't get much use. But when we woke up this morning and saw that it had snowed a few inches, Grandpa couldn't wait to come over and take her out for a spin. Well actually, Grandma took her for a spin...Grandpa took the pictures :-)

You can see that Addie felt a bit lonely on the sled so she called for her best buddy "HoooowWARD" to come along for the ride. And as you know, Howie NEVER passes up the opportunity for a free ride (remember the BOB this summer?). I think the two of them had a lot of fun.

Although, I am sure they would have had more fun if Grandma wouldn't have dressed Addie up like Randy from "A Christmas Story". Hahaha!

Yay for winter! I know everyone is cursing the snow right now but I love it. Its makes everything feel more Christmasy. But ask me again how I feel about the snow in a month. I will surly be whistling a new tune when I am trying to drag TWO kids out in it. Yikes :-)

P.S. Side note...I had my LAST doctors appointment today and all is good! Blake's heartbeat is still strong and he is "in position". Less than a week to go! Woohoo!

What Santa is Bringing Addie...So He Says

I can't begin to tell you how EXCITED I am for Christmas morning this year!!! I am not quite sure that Addie fully understands the whole concept of Santa bringing gifts...but the look on her face when she sees wrapped presents is priceless. She accidentally got a sneak peak of "Santa's workshop" (a.k.a. my office) the other day and she just went "wooooooooow!!!". I know she is going to be thrilled when she wakes up Christmas morning and sees what Santa has left for her. And since I was able to chat with Santa the other day, he let me in on a few secrets. Here are some of the things Addie will see under the tree this year.

First, because she is ALL about coloring and crafts right now, Santa has filled her stocking with lots of Crayola Wonder products. Anything that says "Mess Free" on the box is a winner for me.

Santa also knows that Addie likes her Little People toys and so he decided to get her this Busy Day House (since he got it for a STEAL on Black Friday :-)

And even though Santa said he wasn't going to bring any "Big" toys this year, he couldn't resist getting this Step 2 50's Retro Diner when he found it for only $99 (plus free shipping). Addie plays with this set all the time when she goes to visit her cousin Gracie so I know she will love it :-)

Now, if Addie isn't coloring or playing with her kitchen, she is in her bedroom playing with her dolls. She LOVES her dollies and is already taking very good care of them. She likes to feed them, change them, put them to sleep, etc. Now, word on the street is that Grandma and Grandpa Mueller have some VERY special dolly presents coming her way. But I will save those for another post.

Anyway, one thing Santa is bringing to our house is this fantastic shopping cart!! I have been eyeing it up at PBK forever and I am so happy that "Santa" broke down and got it for her :-)

And, since Grandma and Grandpa may or may not be getting Addie a special Dolly from the American Girl store, I decided she needed a matching "Howie" to go with her Doll.

And last but not least, since Aunt Dana bought this adorable pink animal sleeping bag for Addie last year...

Grandma thought it would be fun to get her dolly the matching sleeping bag this year. I LOVE IT!

So there you go...a little sneak peak into Santa's bag of goodies. I feel like we may be spoiling her juuuuuuuust a bit but who cares. Christmas only comes once a year right? And...with a new baby brother arriving in just ONE week...I think a little extra spoiling might be in order :-)

So have any of you "talked to Santa" and know what he is bringing you, your hubby/BF, kiddies, etc.? Anything you are SUPER excited about?

Looks Like I'm Next!

Remember back in July when I posted about the celebrities that were due around the same time as me? Well...as of this week...they have ALL had their babies!

Hotties Giselle and Tom Brady had their little boy, named Benjamin, on December 8th.

And since it has been about 11 days, I am sure she already looks like this again...

Kendra Wilkinson also had her baby boy, Hank Jr., on December 11th. The article said she had Hank via c-section after a failed induction. Her due date wasn't until Christmas day and the baby was STILL over 9 lbs!! That's just crazy.

And last but not least, Kourtney Kardashian had her baby boy, named Mason, on December 14th. Can't find any pictures yet, but hopefully he looks like Kourtney and not her creepy BF. HA!

So...it looks like I'm next!!!

Christmas Gifts From Pops

While on one of my house cleaning/organizing missions, I realized that I wanted/needed two new pieces of furniture. For one, I needed some kind of a bench in front of my bed that can be used for toys (since Addie plays in our room a lot), extra blankets, and a stepping stool for Howie and Addie to get onto the bed. I found a gorgeous piece at Pottery Barn and one equally cute from Target. BUT...I can never buy anything without asking my mom and dad if they can make it first. Pops was looking for a new project and I have to say...the man did me proud!!! Look how fantastic this bench is!!!

The stain matches our furniture and the bassinet he made for Addie (which is now for Blake). My mom is working on a chocolate brown cushion for the top and I think it is just PERFECT!!!! Sorry Pottery Barn...Daddy-O wins again!

And while he was at it, I told him that I also liked the shelf that matched the bench in PB catalog. I thought it would be perfect in my laundry room for organizing coats, gloves, scarves, etc. So, he just went ahead and whipped this one together too. 

As long as we can ALL manage to put our scarves, hats and gloves back where they belong...I think this shelf will really help keep the laundry room organized. But even if it doesn't, it is still super pretty to look at :-)

Thanks again for my early Christmas gifts Pops!!! They are beautiful as always :-)