FYI...

Just an fyi, we did not and are not finding out what the baby is.  We are all about the surprise.  Even if we had wanted to know, little Boss wasn't cooperating anyway.  "It" kept its legs crossed the entire time, so they couldn't tell anyway.  

Everyone has their own opinions.  Claudia thinks its going to be a little girl named Kyla (hmmm???), Jake says a boy baby, my mom won't say anything but "she", and just about everyone else I know is convinced it's a boy.  Either way, as long as there are ten fingers and toes and it's healthy I'm good... although it is a lot more fun shopping for girl clothes... but, I already have all boys (Steve and Ripley) what's one more?! :)  

A mover and a shaker...

Hello mom, hello dad...  today we saw our little peanut.  It was amazing.  And what a wiggle worm!  That baby did not stop moving the entire time "it" was getting its picture taken.  It was really quite something and I loved every second of it.  I wish I could see pictures every day!  Soon enough, I guess.  Here is a sampling of some of the shots of our ultra-sound.  Enjoy!

Cabin in the woods...

From Dec 27-Jan 2 we were in the U.P. at Steve's family's cabin.  We had 10 adults, 2 kids, and 1 dog.  One dog who thoroughly enjoyed the cabin rules.  The fact that he didn't really have any restrictions on where he could lay.  So, he slept in my bed, Steve's bed, the couch, Katie's bed, Steve's parent's bed... and that is only when he wasn't laying on his blanket in front of the fire.  

Claudia's coat lost its zipper when we got to the cabin, so taping her into her coat was the best option.  When the duct tape ran out we moved on to the masking tape.  She loved it!  Jake also loved getting to take a bath inside in front of the fire.  We were having trouble getting the sauna hot enough for the kids to go out there for their baths.  Ripley loved it in the U.P.- he was able to run around and explore a lot.  As long as he didn't get stuck in the deep snow.  The snowmobiling was great while we were up there.  There was SO much snow and it fell almost everyday.  

We obviously spent New Year's Eve at the cabin- oh so exciting.  Towards the end it was all we could do to stay up until 12:00!  I know, REAL entertaining.  I played the bartender (what else is a preggers to do?).  We may not have running water or electricity, but we had pomegranate martinis and mojitos!  We did finally make it to midnight and tried to hear the ball dropping announcement on the (battery powered) radio.  We missed the drop, but celebrated it all the same.  

Some of the other pictures are cooking breakfast- everyone loves chocolate chip pancakes, and collecting our water from the Salmon Trout Creek.  It is quite the process for the guys, but it works.  There is a picture of our group outside the cabin before our snowmobile ride out to the cars- we are missing Katie, Carley, Claudia, and Jacob who had to leave early to get Katie back to work.  Everyone else- Steve's cousin Kim and husband Kirk, my parents, Steve's parents, the two of us, and Ripley all stayed a couple extra days.  And that last pic- yeah, Ripley did NOT like his snowmobile ride in or out, but at least on the way out he didn't try and jump off 3 times!

It was a great trip, once again, but it is always nice to return to our toilet that flushes and isn't outside (trust me, when it is 0 degrees and you are pregnant and have to pee in the middle of the night...) refrigerator, ice cubes, dishwasher, shower, king size bed, cell service... well, it's just good to be home too! 

Christmas still lives...

There are a few pictures from opening presents at our house and our Christmas tree.  I thought our tree was particularly good this year.  We aren't real particular when choosing the tree, so it always amazes us when it turns out to be a really good tree.  We do love our Fraser Firs though- the needles last forever!  And they don't get all over the floor, which I love.  My cute shirt I got from Steve says, "with bump, not plump".  Everyone might as well know that I am not really just overeating or developing a belly from all the delicious holiday treats.  And Ripley certainly loved having the reindeer antlers put on him.  Can't you see how excited he is by the picture???  Steve got a new coat.  And the only other ones, besides the dogs, who got into any of our Christmas pictures were our most adorable niece and nephew, Claudia and Jacob.  Claudia was happy with her new American Girl doll and matching dress Nana got in Chicago when Katie ran the marathon and Jake was VERY excited by the "vroom-vrooms" we got him.  He barely put them down!  And, we also have the traditional Christmas Eve in front of the tree picture we always take after church at my parent's house.  My mom must have ended up with all the ones with other family members in them on her camera.  Again, all I have are us and dogs!  All in all, Christmas was a whirlwind.  We traveled all over the state, but hit all the parties, opened all the presents, went to all the church services, and ate all the food we possibly could.  It was great fun and I was left with that very sad feeling after it was all over.  Which, consequently, is part of the reason our tree usually stays up til mid-January (okay, not quite that long, but close).  I hate when Christmas is over and can't ever wait til the next year.  We are obviously very excited for next year because we will get to celebrate with our new little peanut.  It will be exciting and new and especially strange in my family.  It has been a long time (like 27 years) since there was a baby at Christmas.  And it will be fun to see the baby IN all the things we got for Christmas this year.  And to use the FABULOUS new diaper bag I got for Christmas from Nana and Papa Boss!  I didn't really think I was going to get it, so I was very excited!  Thanks be to all for making our Christmas this year so fun and memorable.  And to all... a good night.

the beating of a little, little, little heart...

Today we went to the doctor and heard the baby's heartbeat.  It was just about the coolest thing I have ever heard.  No, it was the coolest thing ever.  Steve and I were very excited.  At first she couldn't find it, but then, out of nowhere, there it was.  thudthudthudthudthud... so fast... a perfect 160 beats.  That's even what the doctor said, perfect! :)  We also got our Christmas tree today... so all in all... a REALLY good day!!! :) :) :)

Long time and good news...

So, it has been awhile since I've posted anything... Sometimes there is nothing to say, and sometimes everything but not enough time to do it in... 

November was full of thanks, obviously... It was great to spend so much time with family and friends.  My mom came to visit for a few shopping filled days.  We took a road trip to Penn State for the MSU vs Penn State game.  The game was a total bust, but we had a great time. The pictures I have yet to post can almost prove it.  Everyone I was with almost remembers it too! Thanksgiving was also a great time with family!!!  :)  My parents and grandma came with Steve and I to his cousin Kim's house in Fenton.  The house was bursting with family and a great day to be thankful for.  We all shared things we were thankful for... Steve and I were able to double up our answer with our amazing announcement... we were thankful for the baby growing in my tummy!  It's true.  I'm pregnant!  It has been so hard keeping the secret, but now that I am 12 weeks along we have decided to really start sharing our news.  The baby is due June 23 and tomorrow we go to the doctor to hear the baby's heartbeat.  I am positive it is going to be an incredible experience!  We are SO excited and really enjoying this time.  It's been weird- especially now that my clothes are getting tighter. :)  Our families are also very excited- I think we really shocked Steve's family.  It's the first and only grand and great grand child on my side and the first Boss baby to come along in QUITE awhile.  We are still kind of getting used to the idea, but now that I need to get new clothes... it's sinking in! :)  And Steve REALLY loves that buying new clothes part! :) 

Halloween Festivities

Our Halloween festivities started last weekend.  Steve's friend Roben has a Halloween party every year and we've never been able to go because of other parties.  It worked out we were able to make it this year, so we recycled last year's costumes... Big Boy and Wendy!  My favorite part about these costumes was they were essentially home made.  I had so much fun putting Steve's costume, especially, together last year.  We also had so much fun carving our pumpkins and passing out candy to trick or treaters.  It was a good thing I had so much, we had WAY more trick or treaters than last year- we almost ran out of candy!  There were only a few dum-dums left :(  Thanks to Katie for coming over and helping us pass it out!  The highlight of Halloween was the Leitch Halloween party.  The best part about it is that it is only a few houses away- although we do get some weird looks walking down the street... I think I scared a few neighbors! :)

Big Boy and Wendy

Our pumpkins turned out really well this year, and thanks to some clear spray paint, the squirrels didn't eat them!
Anna and I were SO happy with the way our "yummy" mummy costumes turned out!  We had so much fun making them, just wish we'd known how long it would take to put them on.  Anna was an hour late to her own party! 

Steve and Jeff- aka Wayne and Garth

The Boss' and the Leitch's :)