Thanksgiving Weekend

So this past week and a half has been very busy for us - there is lots to write about. This post is a little late because I have been staying home with a sick little girl. Aubrey has been running a fever for the past four days, but we think she is finally feeling a little better today and becoming more active.

My parents recently got a brand new van in order to cart all their grandchildren around. They pulled out all the stops and even got the video screens so Max and Aubrey could watch Dora the Explorer (their favorite show) in the car when riding with grandma and grandpa. They absolutly love it. Here they are with their headphones on watching Dora.

On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving I had my 20 week ultrasound. It went very well and the baby is healthy and doing great. We want to be surprised again so we didn't find out the gender, but the doctor did give us a little surprise. By the baby's measurements, I am either having a really big baby or my dates are off. She thinks my dates are off and my new due date could be April 9, two weeks before we were expecting. My parents and Erika and Charlie planned our annual Florida trip in April around my due date of April 22, but now that it may be changed they may be gone. So I have to hold on to the baby for the week that they are gone so they don't miss it. We got a ton of pictures from the ultrasound so I will have to have Dominic scan some of them in so I can post them.

For Thanksgiving this year we went to Sparta to see Dominic's side of the family. We had a fun time and ate a lot. Aubrey eventually warmed up to everyone and loved spending time with her great uncle Tom and aunt Karen. We were busy so I didn't get that many pictures but here are a few.



With Mommy and baby


Eating with Daddy


Hanging with the boys




Derek, Casey, Layla, and Aubrey


Friday we went with Charlie, Erika, and Max to go see Sesame Street Live with Elmo. The kids were mesmerized with all the dancing characters and Aubrey loved seeing Elmo. They danced in the aisle a lot!







Mesmerized by Elmo


Saturday we threw a baby shower for my sister in law who is expecting a boy on December 31. We are so excited for another baby boy in the family. We are awaiting any news his month to say he is here and find out his name. And then on Sunday (we had a packed Thanksgiving weekend) we had Mya's baptism. She looked super cute and did so good in church.

A good picture except for Aubrey's fish lips. (If you haven't noticed, Aubrey knows when the camera is out and always refuses to smile - we have no idea why!)


The expecting new parents with Mya


Sunday night I put up our Christmas decorations with Aubrey's help. She was so sweet and wanted to put up all the breakable ornaments! We can't wait for Christmas with her this year!

Just Because

This past weekend was my nephew Max's 2nd birthday. If you read my blog at all, you will know that Max and Aubrey are the best of friends and together all the time. It was a fun birthday party this past Sunday with good food, ice cream cake, and a Dora the Explorer pinata. Max is also very into tools so he got a tool bench and chain saw for his birthday. Aubrey loved wearing Max's goggles that came along with his tools as you can see by the picture. Unfortunately this is the only picture I took from the party since I played photographer for Erika with her camera. I am sure she will post most of those pictures on her blog.



We are so excited that Dominic's brother and wife, Derek and Casey, have moved back home from Indiana. Aubrey has missed playing with her cousin Layla so much and they have already spent quite a lot of time catching up. We are also so appreciative that they are watching Aubrey on Mondays for us while we are at work. I am positive the girls love spending time with each other. Here is a picture Dominic took this past weekend but cut off Casey's head - oops!

Halloween Fun 2009

We had a busy, fun-filled day on Halloween. It started by going to a Halloween birthday party for Mady, my cousins daughter. All the kids are close in age so they have fun playing together. My mom bought Aubrey, Max, and Mya matching pumpkin shirts - very cute. We tried to get pictures of them all smiling and looking in the same direction, but that wasn't happening. With two new babies on the way (my own and my brother's little boy), I don't think that is going to happen for a while!




Enjoying some pumpkin cupcakes.




The next part of our day was trick-or-treating. It is a big deal in our neighborhood with everyone burning fires in their driveways, giving away shots to the adults, firemen coming with the fire truck to give out glow sticks, and tons and tons of kids. We always run out of candy every year because there are so many kids. We came close this year but made it with a little candy to spare. All of our family came to enjoy the fun so it was a great time.

A family picture - except Dominic had his eyes closed.



Max the skeleton and Aubrey the fairy.


Layla was able to make it too.


Mya the pumpkin. Max already crazy from the candy.


Trick-or-treating with Grandma in the wagon.




Already eating the candy.


The last part of the day was a Halloween/Housewarming party at Jamie and Matt's new house for mommy and daddy. It was a costume party and there were a ton of great costumes - I unfortunatley forgot my camera so no pics. But their house is beautiful anb we had a fun time. Until next year . . .

Coming Soon . . . in April

We are so excited to say that soon we will have a big sister in our house! I am 15 weeks along and due April 22nd. It has been a fast and queesy couple of months so far. I have been extremely tired and going to bed very early these days. I think I was like this too with Aubrey but maybe didn't notice it as much because I could take naps during the day - I can't do that any more with a busy 16 month old. We are going to wait and be surprised to find out if the baby will be a little brother or sister. I convinced Dominic not to find out with Aubrey and now he tells everyone it is the best surprise ever - you will never forget that moment! Here are some more pictures of our future big sister.

Some of Aubrey's favorite things to do these days are to model all her different shoes - these are her boots from Alaska that Grandma and Grandpa got her on their trip last fall.





She loves to color in her Elmo coloring book.







And read lots of books.





Here's Aubrey zonked out from just thinking about all the things she will have to help with she is a big sister. We are practicing with her babies!

Laura and Matt's Wedding

This past weekend I had the pleasure of reading in one of my good friend Laura's wedding. It was a good thing it was on Saturday and not Sunday, because by Sunday I had no voice. I had taken Aubrey to the doctor on Friday and she was put on antibiotics for an ear infection. She must have given her cold to both Dominic and I because we were both sick. It didn't really hit until Sunday so I was still able to have a good time at the wedding. Here are some pictures of the beautiful bride and all of my friends.



Her adorbale flower girls.

















A big group picture of all of us girls. Only a couple left to get married!



A goofy picture of Aubrey in her Halloween pajamas.