Baby Update ~ 16 weeks

Today I had my 16 week appointment to hear the baby's heartbeat. Last time the MD checked the heartbeat, it was very hard to find but not this time! The baby was moving like crazy :) I started feeling the baby move around 13 weeks and he/she hasn't stopped since!

Everything is progressing perfectly although my body is massive. I guess I can just chalk that up to the third child and like my doctor said today, "it's like the body just gives in figuring it knows what is coming." So true! My doctor is a mother of three so completely understands how I feel.

Speaking of how I am feeling, I am feeling a TON better. I still get very tired but I am sure that has NOTHING to do with my other two kids, right? I am no longer on Prilosec and my stomach has decided to be nicer to me. Yeah to that!

I had some blood drawn today to test for genetic disorders in the baby. This is an optional screening but I had it done with Ella and Laney and figured I would get it done this time as well. Not that we would change our course given the results but it's nice to know.

My next appointment is in 4 weeks and this is the big ultrasound! As of now, we are NOT finding out the sex. Jason really wants to but I thought it would be such a fun surprise (and I think it's a girl so I am already prepared!). But the next baby update will include pictures (and hopefully 3 D pictures) so we can really see what he/she looks like.

I am going to post a poll on the left hand side of the blog to see if you all think we should find out the sex ~ what do you think? Yes, even you grandparents and great grandparents!

Happy New Year

This year we decided to host a New Year's celebration extravaganza for our friends (aka, also people who need to go to bed early due to kids) :) The guests included our wonderful neighbors (The Clarkes, The Powells, The Worthingtons), Emily and her daughter, Gabby; Kelly and her daughter, Grace; and Liz and her fiance, Chris.

We woke up NYE morning, and Ella couldn't stop talking about her friends coming over that night. She went right downstairs and started to cut up a piece of paper, like confetti. Once she cut up the paper, she would then color a little picture. She was making little "gifts" for all of her friends. It was so cute to see her overcome with excitement to see her buddies.

I even cooked--can you imagine? It was so nice to have the energy to actually cook! Jason did the grocery shopping for me (thank you, thank you, J!) and helped me clean so that was a huge help. We had dinner of lasagna, green salad, a new grape salad and bread. Our friends pitched in with appetizers and dessert.

Having friends over gave us the motivation to clean up the basement so the kids could have another room to play in. It really was a nice area for the kids to explore the toys and find my money (I am onto you Ryan Worthington..check his pockets, Kristy!). But the kids did so well and had only very few breakdowns.

We had many wii competitions throughout the night--dueling guitar hero and Mario Cart. With the Mario Cart we played 4 people at a time, which we had never done before. It was lots of fun and we confirmed that those Worthingtons are freakishly good at that game.

Reese was enjoying the play time

Grace playing the drums while the girls danced around

Ryan's shirt says it all....ladies, I'm single.

But maybe not single for long!
Thanks for many of the pictures below, Kristy :)

Carly and the Dora Vanity

Jack eating a cookie and checkin' out the ladies

Grace and her mad drum skills.
Check out the Rose Petal Cottage in the background.
It has a washer, stove, sink, and we bought tons of new food for it.
Thank you Nana and Pappy Willett for the cottage--it is a huge hit!

Laney partying till the break of dawn

Patty, Jason, Joel and Emily enjoying some adult time

Now who is watching the kids if the moms are jamming away on Guitar Hero?
Oh yeah, we threw those kids in the basement.
All kids made it out alive :)

The boys playing Guitar Hero

The kids ended the night with a "cheers." Kristy likes to say it was sparkling cider but really, we needed the kids to sleep that night so draw your own conclusions (just joking grandparents).

The party wrapped up at 9:30 ish and our kids partied until about 10. It was a very rough night for Lane, and Jason slept in her room the whole night. She couldn't get to sleep and when she would finally sleep, it was for about 20 minutes and only with Jason right next to her. She was her happy self the next day so I am not sure if she got over tired or what....but at least she was in a good mood the next day :)

Thank you all for coming over. It was a wonderful celebration with such great friends.

Daddy's Day at the Museum

Jason and his friend, Joel, took all 4 kids to the museum this past week. Kristy and I were so impressed and although I had to work, I hope Kristy enjoyed some "me" time :)

It sounds like the crew made it through most of the museum, and Ella was excited that Reese showed her all the computers. Ella had never shown much interest in the computers by the dino exhibit but Jason said with Reese's guidance, Ella was loving them! Thanks Reese for showing Ella the wonder of technology.

After a few hours of playing they enjoyed some lunch at the museum and then home for some good naps; I am sure naps were needed for the dads as well :)

Team work between Ella and Ryan

Ryan and Laney checking out the fishies

One of the many new computer discoveries for the Willett Women

How many monkeys can fit in a barrel?

Ryan is probably thinking that he is definitely outnumbered by the girls in this barrel

Reese seemed to love the close quarters

Driving with Ms. Reese

Digging in the dino exhibit is always lots of fun.

I think Reese found something!

Laney loves the accessories required for digging.

What is it with all the kids in barrels?

Ryan and Joel

Daddy and Laney

On behalf of our children, thank you Dads for taking them to the museum.
They are all very lucky to have such fun (and adventurous) Dads.

Dueling Guitar Hero--Fun for all ages

And yes, Ella is in her swimsuit. Isn't that what all real guitar players wear?
Jason found a beginner mode where you don't have to play the note but just strum when the line passes.

This video is what we use to determine which child will get to have music lessons when they are older :)

Christmas 2008

Our Christmas was a whirlwind of events! We wanted to start our family tradition of the girls opening their gifts at our house, and then after opening gifts head to Cincinnati. The girls slept in until about 8am (yeah, yeah, yeah) and then after opening gifts, we headed to Cincinnati.

Here sis, let me do your hair with the new Dora Vanity.

A thank you note to Liz and Le for the art easel (a huge hit with both girls).

Thanks Nguyens!

We had our evening meal with my side of the family in Cincinnati.
Here is a picture with Norma, U. Fred, A. Nancy and Grandma Jean.
The girls were so tired by the end of the dinner and became rather cranky (imagine that?).
But the Christmas celebration still wasn't over :)

Mom and Ella.
It seems to me my mom is explaining the flashlight to Ella.

Grandpa Mike and his girls

After a quick 15 minute power nap in the car, the girls woke up ready to go

and open gifts at Nana and Pappy Stan's.
By this time it was about 7pm and the girls are usually in bed by 6:30 pm so I was impressed they were so good at the
Willett's (definitely Santa's magic was involved).
Ella loved her Easy Bake Oven and her Littlest Pet Shop.

Nana and the bow wreath the girls made for them.

Laney and her new cottage.
She loves it even though most of the food doesn't end
up in the stove but in the washer instead.

Later on during our visit, we went to Chuck-E-Cheese to celebrate Jayden's 4th birthday (Jason's cousin's oldest son).

Laney driving

All smiles during the party

Ella, be careful! Precious cargo :)

Ella and a big mouse

Kevin and Lisa; Lisa is Jason's cousin

Nancy and Harry, Jason's aunt and uncle

Nana Dean and Laney having fun at Chuck-E-Cheese

Jason and his dad, Stan

Although it wasn't under the best circumstances,
Jason's Dad's whole side of the family was in town. Jason's Grandfather had emergency brain surgery the day after Christmas. A malignant tumor, the size of an orange, was removed and an MRI later showed that the surgeon was able to remove 85-90% of it! Grandpa Stan is such an amazing trooper and when we visited him the day after the surgery, he looked amazing. He had already been joking with family and the nursing staff. Our prayers for a successful surgery were certainly answered!
In this picture is Stan, his sister Shirley, Grandma Lil, his sister Nancy, Jason, his brother Clyde.

Stan and his sister, Shirley

Carol (Jason's Aunt) and Misty (Jason's cousin)

Stan, Lillie (Stan's Mom), Carol (Stan's sister) and Jason

Another day, another Elmo cake.
Since we were in town my mom was nice enough to get Laney an Elmo cake. It was so delicious! It was just us, my parents and my Grandma Jean but it was such a nice celebration of Laney's second birthday!
Thanks for the cake, Mom and Dad.

Do you think this girl likes cake?

Or does this girl like it??

Then Ella decided to show us her muscles...I love when she does this. She gets so intense!

It was such a wonderful Christmas with family and friends. We all got some wonderful gifts but the most important gift was spending time with our family; we are truly blessed to have each of you in our lives! Thanks for all you do for the girls and for us!