New House!

Dear Stevie,
Sorry it's been awhile since I've updated--we've been busy!

Last weekend we moved into a new townhouse about a mile and a half from our old place. On top of the craziness of packing, moving, and unpacking, I also got really sick with a cold. This cold, combined with seasonal allergies and lots of dust from cleaning the old house, turned into a kind of scary asthma attack Sunday night, which has now turned into a nasty cough that won't seem to go away--not fun!

Anyway, I love our new place and it feels so nice to have so much more space! The dogs are loving having so much more room to run around and are really digging the new carpet (we had wood floors before).

I really pushed for us to move into this townhouse because of you, Stevie. If it were just me and your dad, we would have probably moved further into the city, but we want you to get to live in a nice (low-crime!) neighborhood, with lots of other little kids around. The new neighborhood even has a super cute park less than a block down the road! It's the perfect part of town: back in our neighborhood is nice and quiet, but we're only a mile or two from the hustle and bustle of the city. I think you're going to love it!

As I'm unpacking things and walking around the new neighborhood with the dogs, I keep thinking about how awesome it's going to be having you here with us. And I can't believe you'll be here in just over 3 months! Time is FLYING!

We still have a lot to do to make it look like a home (painting, putting up all our pictures and decorations, etc), but here are a few pictures of your new house:

Bathroom (and a shot of my growing belly!)

Part of me and Dad's bedroom (it's huge compared to our old one!)

Our big closets (Is it obvious which one is mine?)

Upstairs stairway. The dogs love racing up and down the stairs :)

Part of the dining room (needs some paint to liven it up...and a real table!)

Some of the little kitchen

Part of the living room. I'm really excited for the deck!

Some more of the living room

I didn't take any pictures of the basement, because it's pretty much just your standard big, unfinished basement with a washer and dryer. Or of the garage, because it's, well just a garage :).

I am so excited to start working on your room next month--I'm sure I will put up tons of pictures of that process once we get started!

We love you so much!

Mom

23 Weeks!

Hi Stevie,
We spent this weekend in Chicago for my old college roommate, Irene's wedding. Dad and I drove down with Marissa and her husband Jon and had a great time! It was so great to see all my best girlfriends; they are all SO excited to meet you this August! You're going to love them all!

You are turning out to be one very active little girl! Since I started feeling you kicking last week, it's only gotten more frequent and more intense--I love it! You usually start dancing around whenever I lay down (especially at night) or right after I eat something (especially something nice and spicy). I can't believe how strong you're getting! Dad loves feeling you move around too. He's always poking and prodding at my belly, trying to get you to wake up :).

Here are a few pictures of this weekend for you:

The girls in windy Chicago. Emily, Nora, Jaime, Lisa, Lisa (Myrmel), Claire, Jenny, Me, and Marissa

Dad and I (and you!)

You and I with the beautiful bride!

23 weeks

I can't believe you're going to be here in less than 4 months! Time is just flying by. I get more and more excited for August everyday. Love you so much already!

Mom

Little Kicker!

Hey Stevie,
I've been feeling little "flutters" for a few weeks, but tonight you were kicking me so hard that I could see my belly literally move with each of them. So cool! Dad was even able to feel you! He refers to it as you "pedaling"--he's convinced you're just getting ready to go on bike rides with him :)

We love you so much!

Mom

22 Weeks!

Hi Stevie,
Happy 22 weeks baby girl!

22 week belly shot. Up 13 pounds!

It's getting harder to harder to hide that bump! And please ignore the messy room :)

Only 4 months to go!

We had absolutely perfect weather this weekend. 70 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. I am feeling great and enjoying every second of this wonderful early spring! This weekend was full of baby and thrift store shopping, Dairy Queen, grilling out, tank tops and shorts, long walks with the girls, soaking up the sun, packing, cleaning, and more packing.

We're moving in about 2 weeks to a bigger, nicer townhouse 1.5 miles from where we live right now. I can't wait! Packing sucks, but it feels really awesome to go through all the stuff we have, get rid of things we don't need, and organize the things we do. The one thing I do love about moving is the "fresh start" feeling that comes with a new place. More on the new house later...for now here are a few pictures of your 22nd weekend! :)

Thifty mama: sweet deals for you at the thrift store

There's nothing like meat and veggies (and fruit-that's pineapple! ) right off the grill

Keep growing baby! We are getting so excited to meet you!

Love,
Mom

Registry Fun

Hi Stevie,
Tonight Dad and I did some more registering at Babies R Us (my mom and I started last weekend). It's fun--you get the satisfaction of shopping without actually buying anything! :)

Seeing all the things you'll need is a bit overwhelming, but I keep reminding myself that it's all just "stuff"; you're not going to care whether or not your swing or pack and play costs $150 new at the store, or $10 at a garage sale. Someone told me, "all a baby really needs is a pair of boobs, a car seat, diapers, and a safe place to sleep. Everything else is nice, but those are the essentials." So while all the baby stuff is definitely fun, I am trying my hardest not to get too caught up in it all.

Diapers. We registered for lots of these!

Dad's turn with the scanner

Look! I found a swimsuit with a built-in inner tube for you--just like the one my mom made me wear! :)

Love you lots baby girl!

Mom

Ps. I've discovered you really like spicy food, just like me. Dad made guacamole with a ton of habanero hot peppers this week and immediately after I ate a bunch, you started moving around like crazy!

Happy Easter!

Dear Stevie,

Happy Easter, and happy 21 weeks!

Your first Easter was a great one. This whole weekend was full of family, food, fun, sunshine, and of course lots and lots of candy! Hope you've been enjoying all the sugar I've been sending down your way the last couple days! :)

Easter is all about hope, fresh starts, and new life--and I couldn't help but keep thinking about you all day and how you are really bringing all these things into our lives. A brand new chapter in our lives is about to begin, and I am so incredibly excited to see where it takes us.

I'm exhausted, so I'll just let the pictures of this weekend speak for themselves.

Watching Dad's cousin Jeff fly kites in the backyard

Auntie Katie with her amazingly adorable sunflower cupcakes (you are going to have the coolest birthday cakes thanks to her!)

Check out those awesome lady bugs...your mama made those!

Look at that belly popping out!

Dad enjoying the perfect spring weather (I hope you get those freckles!)

You're already so loved...and so spoiled! Easter presents from the Cooks

You're already getting mail! Aunt Jaime's mom sent you the cutest handmade blanket...so sweet!

21 weeks today (after a great Easter meal with Grandma and Grandpa Ziemke, Uncle Brandon, and my Aunt Jan and Uncle Scott)

You and I are both growing like crazy these days!

I'm already swelling up...check out how tight my ring has gotten. I'm a bit scared for July!

We love you so much baby!

Mom