It's A Boy -- Again!

As you read a few months ago, we are expecting Baby #3 in May. I convinced Kevin to find out the gender with this one (which we didn't with the first two because we both liked the surprise of finding out in the delivery room.) After having two boys already, I was anxious for the possibility of having a girl. All the pink and ruffles and lace and frills are so cute. But, I didn't have any of that stuff. So, if this was a girl, I wanted to know so that I could get some of that in time for her arrival.

Well, the day of the ultrasound came and I was excited. I would know if I was finally getting my daughter or if I was going to be blessed with another boy. The doctor waved his magic (ultrasound) wand and showed us the head and the face and the stomach.

If you look carefully, the baby is on its side with its forehead on the left side of the picture. The eyes are on either side of the white mass (the nose) in the middle of the oval that is the head. At the bottom of the picture is an arm with the abdomen at the very right edge of the ultrasound.

Then the doctor waves his magic wand and shows us the baby's bottom and legs.

And right in the middle of the opening between the legs is proof that I am carrying yet another son. It might be hard for you ultrasound novices to see, but after two separate angles, there is no doubt in the doctor's, or Daddy's, mind that these are the first photos of our baby BOY.

So, as we are in the car in the pouring rain leaving the doctor's office, Kevin's asking if I'm fine. Knowing I'm disappointed, he does everything he can to make jokes and lighten the mood. Sure, I'm disappointed, but I'm really okay with it. I think I knew it was a boy all along, but I was still hoping. I don't know if it's so much being the only female in the house or knowing that I only have one more chance at a girl (because we are planning on a total of four children) or knowing that we have no boy names that we like. We have lots of girl names to choose from, but no boy names. So, on the way to pick up Liam at the bus stop, I make him take me to Half Price Books to pick up a baby name book. We've got to start somewhere.

I think the best reaction of all (at least the funniest) came from veteran Big Brother Liam. I had bought a bib that was blue and said "I'm the Little Brother" (I had also bought a "little sister" one just in case it went the other way) to give to Liam and Ben to share the news. Liam takes the bib out of the gift bag, sees the blue, reads the writing and says, "Another brother? Darn it!" with a definite tone of disappointment. I think having a little brother was old news; he'd already done that once. He wanted a little sister. He's okay about it now, but I just had to laugh. We picked Ben up at Kevin's parents, who were babysitting while we were at the doctor, and he caught onto the significance of the blue right away and was totally excited. Both of them can't wait to meet their little brother. We just know that they won't be naming him. Liam's first suggestion? Mew--a character from Pokemon. I don't think so.

Later that night, Kevin came home from seeing a movie and going to the gym and he brought me flowers and a mushy card to make me feel better. It did. He knew just the right thing to do and say. What a guy!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year 2008! Yes, I realize we are 2 months into the new year, but as I said in my previous post, I'm way behind and trying to catch up.

Every year for the last 5 years or so, we have hosted New Year's Eve at our house. It's not a big bash or anything. Just a small gathering of family with no pressures for those without spouses, no need to find a fancy dress or pressure to get as "toasted" as you can before the big toast. I make a bunch of appetizers, we play some games with the adults, have games in a separate room for the kids, and ring in the new year. Here are some pics from this year's get-together.

Ben, Ander and Liam have a toast with their Sparkling Apple Juice.

RP, Kelly and Liam wish each other Happy New Year!


In the living room are Sean, Becky, Carrie, Dan and Libby playing a fun game that Becky introduced to us called "LOSER."

Over in the dining room Kevin, Kelly, Nikki and Josh play euchre. Nikki and Josh are new additions to our celebration this year. It's nice to have another couple who is willing to join in on the fun.

As usual, Kevin's dad is asleep with a book on his lap way before midnight.

It was a bit disappointing this year that my Mom and Dad couldn't make it down. Dad has to work on New Year's Eve and then open the store on New Year's Day. Although Columbus is only an hour away from Mansfield, it's become difficult for them to make the trip twice in one night, especially when the return trip is in the early morning hours. Maybe one of these years his bosses will come to their senses and not be open on New Year's Day.

Holiday Traditions

Okay, I realize that the date of this post and the title are kind of opposites. As I was downloading pictures tonight, it hit me that I hadn't posted anything in months. So, as I'm looking at pictures from the last couple of months, I decided to make a couple of quick little entries. The first one is about Holiday Traditions. Well, actually Christmas traditions to be exact.

For the last couple of years, we've been getting our Christmas tree on the day after Thanksgiving. But this year Kevin didn't want to leave the house on the crazy shopping frenzy day that is the day after Thanksgiving. So, seeing as how we get our fresh tree from his Uncle's Christmas Tree Farm, and Thanksgiving dinner was at their house this year, we decided to head to their house early to cut down our tree. We like the variety known as Canaan firs. The branches are really compact and the needles are pretty soft, even as we're un-decorating and taking it down.

Here are some pics of the tree as it's being cut down and after it's decorated.

We also have some family Christmas pictures.

This one of the 4 of us in front of our tree is taken using my tripod.

This one of Santa (Daddy in costume) with Liam, Ben, and Sadie is at PetSmart where Kevin volunteers for a shift to help out the rescue organization that Kelly works with, through which we adopted Sadie.




The next few pictures are just some shots of our various Christmas traditions:

Liam, Ben, and Daddy decorating Christmas cookies that Daddy baked and made the icing for (from scratch I might add.)

Christmas Eve is spent in Mansfield with the English side of the family. First, the Christmas Eve pageant at church, then opening presents at Nana and Papa's with all the kids.

All the grandkids look so sweet, don't they? These are the last few moments of calm before they all tear into the many packages waiting for them. In the back are Libby, Brianna, and Liam and in the front are Ander and Ben.

Then, we drive home to Columbus where we put out Reindeer Food, Milk & Cookies for Santa (don't forget carrots for the reindeer!), put the Santa Key on the door, and off to bed!

Christmas morning brings presents from Santa and Mommy & Daddy.

Then Grammy, Papa, Kelly, RP, Great Grammy, and Bev join us for more presents and breakfast.

After a little time spent relaxing, playing with toys, and preparing our contribution to Christmas dinner, we head to Kelly's house for more presents with Jesse, June, Tracy, Ike, Nikki and Josh and Christmas dinner. By the end of the day, we are exhausted.