And so this was Christmas and New Years and....

Yes, I know it has been awhile. I think I have been in the first trimester hibernation. For anyone that didn't actually know yet, we found out in late November that we are expecting our 2nd child due in late July/early August. It was a bit of a roller coaster, but we are very happy it is finally happening!

Our Christmas was low-key this year, which was nice from the usual packed December and lofty goals we set for ourselves. We took Connor to see Santa, got our tree and drove downtown to see the Christmas lights. All in all, it was a nice time. Connor, of course, was SO very excited and enthusiastic about EVERYTHING Christmas, it was infectious!

Every year he receives a visit from "The Elves" on Christmas Eve. The usually leave a gift on the front porch and run away without even saying hi. This year they left a Zoob Set, it is basically like plastic tinker toys that you can put together into any creation you want and then take apart and put away. We had a family dinner that night and then desperately tried to get Connor to actually sleep! Do anybody's kids sleep on Christmas Eve?? Then Christmas morning he surprised us- he slept until 8:30! Santa was in a Spidey mood this year, Connor found a "Spi-Dog" under the tree (it is basically a little speaker for an iPod that moves and lights up). After diving into the presents we all braved the Christmas snow we got and headed down to my parents house where we opened presents and hung out with the Cudneys. It was a great day, 8 inches of snow and freezing temps and all!

Connor with his gift from "The Elves" on Christmas Eve!
And on Christmas morning, with his new "Spi-Dog"..

a new book..
his SM3 DVD and gloves and hat!

New Year's Eve was completely uneventful, I have always wondered what the attraction with New Year's Eve was, I am not a resolution setter myself, but Connor thought it was amazing. Though none of us made it to midnight!

On the 2nd Connor lost his second tooth and almost caught Billy leaving the Tooth Fairy coins under his pillow! But he fell back asleep and awoke to some cash in the morning! He started back to school on the 3rd, a bit of a short break, but I think we'll be glad when he is out of school on May 25th!

I went to my first prenatal visit on the 3rd as well. I waited too long to call and schedule the appointment so I had to drive downtown to their main office and I had to see a doc I had never met- she was all of 12- maybe. But she was very nice as she explained to me that I border on being of "advanced maternal age", because I may or may not be 35 when this baby is born. I am due on August 5th and my birthday is August 1st. But since I had a c-section with Connor I am electing to have another one with this child, so I should be able to deliver around July 29th- we'll see. So now we have to decide whether or not to have an amnio. I am not completely thrilled with having someone stick a GIANT needle into my uterus, but I would rather be prepared in case something is not going as planned.

And just to answer your question now, YES we will be finding out the gender at 20 weeks. I know I am the last woman on earth who does, but I am a planner and I need to be prepared. I know most people want to be surprised, but aren't you surprised either way?? But other than being the old woman in the shoe, I am doing well. The morning sickness had subsided and I am venturing out again.

That's it for now! Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Years, we'll talk to you soon!

Melinda