Santa

Brynn's Santa Experience this year....

Winter Break

This winter break has been wonderful! Unlike in the years past we have 3 weeks off instead of 2...we don't get paid for the 3rd week due to budget reduction days, but I do have to say, not having to go back to work Monday is a wonderful feeling!! The week before Christmas, I enjoyed my last minute shopping, wrapping gifts and getting things ready for Christmas weekend. This week I have been enjoying spending time with my mom and Shannon (moms cousin) while her family has been in town and Jerret has been working many hours at P.R.C.. This next week, Jerret won't be working at P.R.C. so we will get some much needed chores done around here and also spend some quality family time together. After all, this will probably be the last "vacation" we have as a family of 3. Crazy to think about...next year at this time we will be a family of 4!

Today B and I enjoyed some much needed retail therapy with Anna. She invited us to Cascade Station, down by the airport. I was not intending to buy anything, yet came home with a few things: 2 fabric storage containers that slide under Brynn's crib (I have already filled one with extra blankets and such things that were taking up space and being used as a cat bed :( ), a couple new bibs for Baby Sister, a Blue's Clues D.V.D. little Miss saw and wanted ($3.00 on clearance, so I said yes) and a maternity shirt for myself :) Anna bought a few things for her house and also picked up some cute little numbers for our Little Bundle. (see photo below).

Miss B taking a rest while shopping....

Tonight...Brynn and baby modeling their new matching robes mommy got them for Christmas!!

L.O.V.E.

What's on the Menu?

Tonight:

Prime Rib on the Tragger w/ horseradish

Baked Potato w/ bacon, sour cream & green onion

Green Salad

Garlic Bread

***at my moms :)

Registry

So I was debating with myself if I should "register" for this baby at Babies 'R' Us. I originally thought no...and then last night as I was sitting doing absolutely nothing but wasting time on the computer, I decided to register. The simple thought that went through my head was "I am not registering for people to buy gifts for us off of it...I am registering so I can somewhat keep an organized idea of things I want/need for this new little bundle. Also, we can get a small discount after the baby is born to buy some of the essentials too...which is always a bonus. I am secretly hoping they send extra coupons in the mail now too :) I didn't register for anything huge...well let me take that back...I did register for a glider chair (just because I want one really bad...) and also a new car seat. I want to get a new car seat so we can have matching bases so I don't have 2 infant seats laying around the house like we did with Brynn. This way one base can stay in the Yukon and one in the Yaris (like normal people) :) Besides these 2 larger items, I registered for things we need new of...oh and a couple things I thought were cute and figured Little bundle doesn't have to start out with EVERYTHING hand-me-down...she will have plenty of that in her lifetime :) She deserves some brand new stuff since she will be brand new...right?! :) This is my justification in my own head :)

L.O.V.E.

I absolutely L.O.V.E. this part of pregnancy...even though I am ready to be done being pregnant...I love being able to sit back and enjoy the movements of our baby girl. It is a lot different than when I was pregnant with Brynn because I carried her a lot higher. This one, is super low so it is a lot of flutters...and I mean a lot. She moves and she moves and she moves. I can't wait to be a little further when I can see the movements literally go across my belly...as of now, I can watch the movements but not like when my stomach gets tighter...when I am relaxing at home, I can't help but to pull my shirt up and watch as our baby girl moves about.

Rain + Zoo=deserted

Today was Tyler's 4th Birthday so we ventured out to the Washington Park Zoo...even though it was raining. We were able to see quite a few animals, however, some were not found...probably because they were escaping the wet weather. A plus to going on a wet, cold day...we basically had the WHOLE ZOO to ourselves! We didn't have to wait to get the front view for the exhibits and we didn't have to fight crowds to walk down the paths...I was really bummed...when I was trying to take my first pic of the day my camera beeped and said "battery exhausted" :( I wanted to cry...because if you know me...I take TONS of pics. I was able to get it to work for a couple and even tried using my new little video camera to take a pic (quality lacking in tiger pic) but oh well...I will check with my mom to see if she got any more...until then...These help capture the wet, desertedness of the ZOO!

The inside Elephant viewing area...we were the ONLY ones in there....

The Poor Wet Mt. Goat...

Brynn and Tyler posing for a photo op.

The Bald Eagle exhibit...it was so close and not enclosed in a cage (well we walked into it's cage)

Merry Christmas Take 2

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!!

We had a wonderful time Christmas morning opening gifts at our own home and then going to my parents house to have brunch. It was just the 8 of us...Mom, Dad, Me, Jerret, Brynn, Kelly, Joe & Dani! I love spending holidays...well make then time in general...with them!!!

I realized after it was all said and done I didn't get one pic of Kelly :(

I have more pics but I will post later...we are going to brave this rainy weather and go to the zoo today with my mom, Kelly and Shannon and her kids for Tyler's birthday, so I need to get a few things done before it is time to go...I was just so excited to try out a new photo layout...I think you should be able to click on the photos to make them bigger and even save them to your own comp. to print?! I can't guarantee...this is my first go at it :)

Brynn's first Bowling Experience

This afternoon we ventured out bowling. I was at my moms house and her cousin Shannon was in town with her family, so we decided to get out of the house and have some fun. We went to Kellogg bowl in Milwaukie and had a blast! My dad's back was hurting, so he ran the "monte carlo" game for us, and kept having money frames for us...I think I won $2.00 :) It was fun though! Here are a few videos and pics of Miss Brynn's first time out!

Finally getting the hang of rolling it herself...

Watching her ball

B and Tyler's scores for the first game...and yes she got a spare...that was when Auntie was helping her roll it down (and no Kelly didn't completely roll it for her)

Real flattering pic...I know...but it was hard to get the right angle to help her get it down the lane, but without really doing it for her :)

Here is Auntie helping Miss B.

Stuck ball...her and I just watched this video and she told me "a police office had to get my ball." (the guy who had to come out to "rescue" her ball was dressed in a navy blue jump suit...apparently that is what she associates policemen with) :)

She was so sad/embarrassed that her ball was stuck and someone had to come and get it for her. Luckily it only happened this one time!

Excited her ball made it all the way down!!!

Brynn just asked me "mom can we go bowling again." :)

Christmas

This post will actually come in parts...for my birthday, Jerret got me a small video camera deally and so I used it a little bit over the holiday...so I wanted to share a few of the videos we captured.

She had an AWFUL nights sleep Christmas Eve. We got home around 10 and she would scream and cry about every 15 minutes (I AM NOT EXAGGERATING) until 3:30 in the morning. Finally, Jerret brought her to bed with us and she laid on him for a few minutes and then I snuggled her the rest of the morning. Every time I felt her get fussy again, I would squeeze her (squeeze hug) and tell her she was with mommy and she would stay calm. I think the overwhelming xmas eve without a nap and the mixture of foods she ate through out the evening didn't help. Kelly spent the night too, and was originally sleeping on a comfy bed we made her on the floor in Brynn's room (she couldn't sleep in the living room cause then Santa wouldn't come) and around 1 in the morning she joined us in our room (on the floor) because of Brynn's craziness. But then since Jer brought B to bed with us, we ended up ALL sleeping in our room :) It was kinda fun, yet we ALL got terrible nights sleep...thus her laying on the floor instead of going into the living room to see what Santa brought. I didn't think of this, but Jerret did, I kept telling her before we got out of bed that Santa had come to try and get her excited...Jerret told her Santa was not in the living room still and she didn't need to be afraid...He is such a good Daddy :)

After she opened her stocking stuffers she would put them inside her new baby carriage. She loves carrying things around be it in a baby stroller, bag...whatever!!!

What's on the Menu?

This is EMBARRASSING!!!

So last week we went over to see Jerret's brother John and his wife Carmen because they just welcomed their first little bundle of joy into the world on Dec. 7th. His name is William Harland Mantalas and weighed 9 lb. 6 oz. I asked what they wanted us to bring for dinner and Carmen said Pizza would be good. So on the way, we stopped at Papa Johns and picked up a Pepperoni pizza and a BBQ chicken pizza...both were DELICIOUS!!! AND as a bonus they were on special for only $11.00 when I ordered online! WHOOP WHOOP!! :)

As for last night...well I didn't make dinner yet again. Anna, Brynn and I spent the afternoon Christmas shopping and ended up stopping at Arby's (so delicious and Jerret isn't a fan) for some lunch and so when dinner rolled around I was not hungry and Jerret suggested Panda Express (his all time GO-TO meal) so I volunteered to get him panda (so I could stop at the Dollar Tree and Albertson's for a few things)...and I ended up not eating dinner. Brynn had some rice and orange chicken from Panda along w/ cupcakes we made later in the evening...

Maybe next Thursday I will actually make dinner? Here's to hoping!! :)

Photography obsession

Just like her mommy, Brynn is obsessed with taking pictures. Anytime she can, she grabs my camera and starts clicking away. The other night she wanted to take pictures but the camera's batteries kept dying every time the flash was open so she had to settle for no flash which caused her pictures to be blurry, however, she still had fun.

Little Miss Photographer herself...

Here are a few she took....

Mommy

T.V.

Daddy (this is where the battery started to die)

The Chair

Her cup

Christmas Box

24 weeks

I love feeling little Miss move inside my belly! She is always on the go! I went to the doc. yesterday and she said movement is good because it is a sign of a healthy baby. I am measuring right at 24 weeks, which is what I am. I go back in, in 4 weeks and then I will begin my more frequent visits already! CRAZY how fast this is going! I love seeing Brynn love on her baby sister by laying her head on or kissing my belly and also talking to her! I am excited to see the bond they develop with one another.

Here is a belly pic for those who enjoy them :)

I have A.D.D. when I clean

When I clean my house, it is VERY difficult for me to stick with one area and stay there until it is done. For example, this morning, I unloaded the dishwasher, loaded it...and instead of finishing sorting the mail and sweeping the floor to get the kitchen done, I moved into the bathroom and cleaned the tub, then came back to the kitchen, then moved to laundry and round and round. So needless to say there isn't one room in my house that is completely done yet...As I was consciously thinking of this "problem" I have...I looked around to see why I felt like nothing was getting done and this is what I have found....

Brynn's toys litter the living room, so I haven't vacuumed yet...

Brynn emptied her basket of clean laundry and brought out all sorts of things from her bedroom....and she rearranged some furniture to accommodate her needs...

leaving messes in the kitchen...(this is AFTER i picked up the contents of her overnight bag that were scattered all about)

More bags...I am sure they are filled with lots more goodies to make cleaning more difficult for mommy :)

I sure do love this girl though...messes and all!

The pic I wish made the xmas card

I have finally realized what side I need to stand on when taking pictures :) However, this wasn't as good of Jer and Brynn as the one that made the card...so I am sacrificing my own satisfaction for a picture that is better of 2 out of the 3 of us :)

Grumpy

Today I am just grumpy. I do not know why, as nothing has happened that should make me grumpy. I just feel grumpy inside. Brynn spent the night at my moms, Jer is working on trying to fix the washing machine I broke yesterday, I am trying to get motivated to clean-up more of the house, and then need to make a couple "snacks" to bring to Jerret's CCC christmas party this afternoon. I have showered, I am eating breakfast, but still grumpy. I guess sometimes people need days like this...but today was not the day I was going for. Now...to try and crawl out of this funk...

What's on the Menu?

I always forget to post this...and it's not like anyone cares anyways...but I would like some new ideas too people!! (the few who do read this) :) He he!

So Thursday nights dinner: Chicken and Stuffing

*as I was making this, I was reading the back of the stuffing box and it is totally on there.

But this was a meal Jerret used to make when we were dating and living in college. So this gives you an idea of how easy it is :)

If you ever have read my "What's on the menu?" before, you know I do not measure, so you will have to make your own judgements OR look on the back of a stuffing box :)

Cut and cook up some chicken

*I do this so it doesn't have to be in the oven as long

Mix 2 cans cream of chicken soup and about 1/2 container of sour cream (or 2 large tablespoon dollops), shredded cheese, veggies (if you like...this time I only had peas and broccoli so that is what went in) and salt/pepper to taste

Make stuffing (I did 2 boxes so there is more stuffing)

Once chicken is cooked, mix chicken w/ soup mixture, spray 9x13 pan w/ nonstick spray, pour chicken mixture into pan, cover w/ stuffing and cook in oven for about 20 minutes on 400 degrees and then enjoy!!!

It is SUPER simple and YES I forgot to take a pic...WHOOPS! :)

Once chicken is cooked, mix

23 weeks

Our Tree

This is the first year Brynn has gotten to help decorate the tree. She was more interested in playing with the ornaments, but still managed to put a few on. Here are the first 3 ornaments that she put on the tree...they were actually the first 3 ornaments on the tree at all...she didn't really understand to spread them out :) and no I did not move them.

Brynn trying to put a little hook on one of the glittery balls. She loved trying but still needed mommy's help. During this process only 1 ornament was broke...she got made, started walking on the ornaments, I told her not to walk on them, so she began to kick them, again, I told her she wasn't going to be able to help if she was being naughty, so she picked one up and somewhat tossed/dropped it and it landed on another ornament and broke. I was sad because it was a mini-snowglobe (her fav. last year) that we got her last year for Christmas. Oh well, it is only an ornament...

Our Tree...a hodgepodge of all different ornaments...from when I was young, from when Jerret was young and also ones we have gotten each other for Christmas since we have been married. I love themed trees but Jerret said he does not and plus I guess this does have a lot more character. Kelly made a good point too...it's not like my house is all fancy and I have a formal living space to put a themed tree in anyways.

Another view...the funny thing is...we thought it had so many ornaments on it. Then Jer was getting all the boxes together to take them back to the garage and found a whole other shoe box full of ornaments...I picked the ones out (only about 3) I thought we needed and put the rest back in.

Christmas Tree Hunt

On Saturday, we went to Mt. Hood Tree Farm with my parents, sister, brother and Dani. It was freezing cold and very foggy as you can tell in the pictures! Jerret's parents were going to come with us but ended up not being able to go. So we picked out their tree for them. So after spending about an hour or so there we came away with 3 trees...one for us, one for Kelly and one for Jer's parents. Mom and dad won't get theirs until next weekend (because of the woodstove and it drying out) and Joe and Dani were going to go with her family today to get theirs.

Kelly ready to find the perfect tree!

Brynn was not being cooperative and was having trouble smiling for a picture

OUR TREE! We found it after about 5 minutes which is SOOO not like us!

I absolutely L.O.V.E. this picture!

She was having fun (some of the time) running around, but most of the time wanted to be carried...We all took our turns

love this girl

Dani & Joe showed up after duck hunting

Kel-Kel's tree

Joe's turn to saw it down...

Jer and Joe get to haul it out for her :)

Part of the group walking to find the perfect tree for Jer's parents now

I think there is one down here...

Yep we got it!

Kelly sipping HOT cider!

Miss B. being a stinker

The whole gang

Merry Christmas!