Merry Christmas!!!

So, how was everyone's Christmas? Ours was nice and relaxing. Oh Wait, you're wanting to know something
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Something really important huh?
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You have been waiting patiently all day for this, and maybe even sending emails to me wanting to know this
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You have waited long enough


It's a GIRL!!!!
Yes, we are very excited. I had been thinking it was a girl for a while and would have been very surprised if it was a boy.
So, here is what happened
On Monday the 22nd we went for the ultrasound, I didn't want to know but Ben was very adament about wanting to know then and not waiting so he has known since Monday and didn't tell anyone or hint either way to me. He said that it was definitly the hardest thing to keep from me since he knew I was leaning more towards a girl. And he really wanted to tell me. He was good though and waited until 7:30 this morning. I woke up, went and got the card adn came back to bed, set it down on the bed and ben rolled over and said "Oh, yeah" So, I opened it, read it, and cried. Her name is Katelynn Marie. My dad's middle name is Lynn and mine is Marie, that is why we chose that spelling. I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and I will type at you all later.

Anna

That wasn't a gas bubble

So I was sitting with my legs bent up and my laptop was pushed against my stomach and there was a definite thud. I wasn't so sure about it last week then on Monday I was sitting the same way again and I felt two distinct thuds. Then at work today I felt it again. It feels like someone touching you firmly with a finger. I also am feeling the flutters. To me the feel like little bugs running over my belly and it kind of tickles. So that wasn't a gas bubble.

Monday was the ultrasound and everything went great. The baby was moving well and has all the parts in the right places. That was my favorite part, knowing that the baby has a four chamber heart, two ventricles in the brain, two kidney's, a stomach and intestines where they should be and a spine that looks straight. It is so nice. now for the main event that everyone is waiting for, yes the gender was determined and it is sittling nicely in the envelope.


I will be back on Christmas to let you all know too either on the phone or here or on the blog.

Type at you all later.

Anna

Monday can't come soon enough

Since we have found out that I am pregnant I think that these past four weeks have been the longest I have went without seeing our hearing the baby's heartbeat. Yes, the BIG ultrasound is on Monday and finding out the sex is not the most important thing to me. I want to just SEE him or her. I just want to see the heart flutter and the baby do all sorts of twists and turns. Just to see that the baby is okay and growing fine, and I will be one happy lady. (Don't worry, I have the card for the ultrasound tech ready for her to write on, I still have six days until we know what we are having, if the baby cooperates.)

A lot of the ladies at work are asking if I feel the baby, I haven't been able to pinpoint and "Flutters" or "Gas Bubbles" just yet. Sometimes I think I feel something once and want it to repeat so that I can be sure and it never repeats so I am not for sure about it.

Ladies, I need to know the things that you hate about some baby products so I don't register for them thinking they would be wonderful and they aren't. Things that you have owned and had experience with and would never want in your house again. This is what I need to know. On the other hand I want to know the thing(s) that you LOVE, that you also wouldn't live without. I need to start looking for things more seriously at Babies r us and I need direction. Shoot looking at those diaper bags that one day was so overwhelming going through the whole store is going to be a very daunting task.

I am starting to count down the weeks until am on Maternity leave. It is about 17 weeks and I can't wait. I know I will probably be working more then, than I am now but I am going to be off for as long as I am allowed and that is what I am excited about. I hope that you are all doing good. I will talk to you all later. (Work is a little slow right now.)

Anna

Stuff

Things are going very well here. Max and Jesse had their Birthday Party I think they had fun. There was ALOT of squeals of excitement and balloon popping. What else could you expect from three year olds. Sarah did a great job with having things for the kids to do, if they wanted. She also made a Mr. Potato Head for for pin the ear and nose on Mr. Potato Head. There was Lunch, Cupcakes, a try at the Potato game, presents and then Max and Jesse were finished with the party. They wanted to go home. They didn't cry or anything they just stated the fact that they wanted to go home. Here are some pics of the day.

Jess was aiming a little low to blow out the candle so Dad had to help him out a little.


Max blowing out the candles.


The Potato head


Presents

Sunday I made this. I know it might not look the greatest but it is pretty much Meatloaf Meatballs. In the recipe book it is called Porcupine Meatballs, I don't know why, maybe it is a little spiky.

Porcupine Meatballs by Jennifer Dzialonski


3/4 lb Ground Beef or Ground Turkey
1 Cup milk
1/2 cup uncooked long grain rice
1 medium onion chopped
1 cup dry bread crumbs
1/2 tsp salt
dash pepper
10 3/4 oz cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup milk

Combine meat, 1 cup milk, rice, onion, bread crumbs, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Shape with an ice cream scoop and place in slow cooker. Mix soup and 1/2 cup milk. pour over meat balls. Cover cook on low for 5 hours.

My notes: Make some separate gravy if you like it more saucy. I like how you don't have to cook anything before cooking. We made baked potatoes for a side dish.

It has been a few weeks so I had Ben take another pic of me.


I think the camera added ten lbs. I really don't think I look that big. I am 17 weeks here.

In shopping news, everyone here knows I am tall, right? It has been horrendously difficult to find pants that are long enough. I don't want to buy pants that I am not going to wear. I think I have tried on every pair that Destination Maternity has to offer, I am not about to spend $200 on a pair of jeans either. After weeks of looking in stores and on the internet, I remembered ebay. I checked them out and found some pants. I am so freaking happy. Having one pair of jeans was not so cool. Sarah and beth may be sick of seeing me in them already and I still have months to go. I was also able to find myself a new christmas scrub top for work in a store today so it is being dried as we speak so I can wear it tomorrow. I will talk to you all later.

Anna

P.S. 10 more days till we find out. WOO-HOO!!