Farewell to 2008!!

What an amazing year full of God's blessings! I have been looking over the pictures from the year...and besides realizing that I have a billion pictures (3,730 to be exact...and that's not counting the wedding/senior pictures I took for others), I realize SO much has happened in 2008 that was memorable...there's no way I could do a slideshow of ALL the moments! The show would last half an hour!! So, I tried best I could to pick out only a few from each month. The other pics are still up in the albums on Picasa, so I'll let you go back and look at all of them if you have lots of time to kill! Haha!

Otherwise, please enjoy the show (MAJOR kudos to Picasa3 for the amazing software!).



HAPPY NEW YEAR! :)

Back (again)!

We have made our way safely back home after the Christmas trip, and have found ourselves settling into the routine once again!

Ian is amusing himself endlessly with his new stash of toys (ESPECIALLY the Little People bus). I've been busy with laundry (Isn't it such a blessing to have enough clothes to be swamped with laundry?! And, I mean that very seriously!). Matt is getting ready to pick up a new series on Saturday...and will be promoted to CAPTAIN on Friday morning (I can't even explain how excited I am!). Zoe is still growing, and maneuvering away, although now that she's filling out the belly some her movements have slowed a touch (all part of the process!). The third trimester officially starts tomorrow! So hard to believe we're in the home stretch!

I'm uploading a few pictures from the trip, be sure to check them out! It was wonderful to see everyone and spend some quality time! :)

From 12.2008 - MISC

Car Wash!

It's been beautiful weather this past week! With temperatures in the mid 70s, we've almost been fooled into thinking winter is over! The warm spell has provided plenty of opportunities for fun outside, and chores...

Today, we vacuumed out both of the vehicles (it's been on the to-do list for quite some time now). We'll have to make sure we do this much more often than before, as Ian spills more cereal now than he did when he was first learning to eat by himself! This is because he tries to make emotional statements with flying cereal! His rain of terror (yes, I intentionally spelled that way!) is quite noticeable on black fabric...

At any rate, after getting the inside cleaned up, time to wash the outside! Of course, hand washing will invariably get your car much cleaner, HOWEVER...every child HAS to experience the no-touch car wash!! :D

Ian gets a little snack to enjoy. Yes, we're brave...just cleaned it out and giving him more! :D We drive into the car wash and the undercarriage spray starts first as we're driving into the covered area (Matt, let's roll up the windows FIRST next time, ok?). Then, the pre-rinse.

I really wish I would have thought more about pictures as Ian's face was totally priceless! His eyes got HUGE! Yes, we're talking saucers! His hand was stuck frozen in midair with the next cereal bit! It was quite amusing! When the spray nozzles got to the rear of the car, it became necessary to "rescue" him from the car wash monster. He sat with us for the remainder of the cycle!

Fear quickly turned to awe (but eyes still big!) at the whole process. He was soon commenting with us, "Here comes!" at each pass of the nozzles. A few "oohs" and "aahs" also escaped his lips with wonder at the car getting it's own shower! All too quickly, the experience was over! It took several minutes for Ian's eyes to return to their normal size as he continued to process the experience while we drove away.

It's really something to observe a "new" little person experiencing things for the first time. It never ceases to amaze me how we are created beings of curiosity and intelligence...and how we learn from the world around us is truly a miracle to behold. I know that even simple things like getting your car washed hold in them miracles of learning. Nothing is ordinary to a child! :)

Become a "follower"!

As you might have noticed, there's something new on the right sidebar...It's a google feature that allows you to become a follower of the blog! Every time I update, you can choose to get an e-mail! How cool is that?! :)

Going, going...?

Last night Ian's new potty chair came. Now, there's one in the bathroom, and one in his room. I put his training underwear on this morning after breakfast, and 3 hours later, he randomly goes, "Paa-paa! Paa-paa!" and then back to playing. (That's his way of saying, "potty" in case you hadn't figured!).

So, off we headed to the potty (he chose the one in his room), and he asked for a book to read.

From 12.2008 - MISC

THIRTY MINUTES LATER...I'm getting tired of sitting on the ground next to him waiting!! (Not as comfortable with a big ol' belly, let me tell you!). I keep asking me if he's all done and wants to get up, but it was his idea...so we sit some more!

Finally, daddy comes home (close to the 45 minute mark), and after several books, Ian is ready to get up. Nothing yet, but the fact he's taking a lot of interest, and seems to get the idea is a good sign!

He still goes most nights right before shower time when the water is running. So, we're getting there! I'll keep you updated on any new "developments"! :)

Zoe's Heartbeat!

Last night was very exciting! I have a sound amplifier specifically designed to help you hear the heartbeat (and other noises) of the growing little one. It recommends you begin using it in the 3rd trimester (just a few weeks away!). However, I read on my baby update that you may be able to hear the baby's heartbeat with a stethescope at this time...

So, almost needless to say at this point...we were able to VERY CLEARLY hear little Zoe's racing heart! It is so amazing to hear that sound, and feel her moving around and growing! What an amazing miracle every day is, as God knits all the pieces necessary for life together in my womb! I'm so much in awe! :)

"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous--and how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed." -Psalm 139:13-26 (NLT)

Baby Shower!

While on the trip, Erica threw me a wonderful Noah's Ark themed baby shower! It was such a blessing to share in the excitement with a few friends and family members and be showered with pink! :)

Thanks to everyone who came and brought their wonderful smiles, words of encouragement, and gifts! It's truly amazing to share in the experience with you all, and I look forward to meeting the little bundle of pink soon! :)

Back from Thanksgiving Trip!

So, we're back home for a little bit! Thanksgiving was a wonderful opportunity to visit with friends and family, and we had a great time! It was so nice to have Daddy home and spend lots of quality time together as a family. I'll be posting some pictures soon!

Special thanks to Erica for throwing me a wonderful baby shower! I'm even more excited now to meet little Zoe (was that possible?!). We also had a 4d Ultrasound done. You can view the photos here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/julie.gayler/Zoe4DUltrasound#

I'll be posting again soon now that we're back and settling into the routine again! :)