Sad and short post this morning. I got a call around 5 am that my Grandpa Adkins has passed away. He had a massive heart attack around 1 am and they couldn't do anything to help him! This is so shocking and so sudden! He didn't know that he had anything wrong with his heart. With the exception of a spot that he had removed from his lung a few years ago he has been a relatively healthy guy, so we are all in a bit of, well, shock right now! We are packing and getting the car ready for it's first road trip to Bowling Green, something I was hoping to do next weekend for a baby shower, but instead we're going now to lay my Grandpa to rest. I don't want to do this, I am soooo not ready! But you never get a say to that do you?!?! Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers this weekend. This is going to be very hard, but all my Granny's kids are on their way to be at her side, which will make it a little easier (I guess!) I'm greatful today for a fairly large, close family who is ready to stand by each other and help each other through this. We have been blessed to have the time with Grandpa that we had, and I'll cherish the memories I have of him forever!

We're having a...Cho Cho?!?!?!

Everything is going well in baby making land! I had a doctor's appointment on Tuesday. My appointment was with the same doctor that delivered Jonah (the practice I'm in is huge-9 different doctors!) so I took Jonah with me to the appointment. He wasn't thrilled to be at the doctor's office at first- I think he thought we were there for him, but he calmed down and did really well. He got to sit up on the table with me and the doctor took his hand and showed him where the baby is at right now. Then we got to listen to the baby's heartbeat which Jonah thought was pretty funny. It sounded like a train and that night when Steven asked Jonah if the baby had said anything Jonah said "Choo-Choo"! We laughed so hard! He's going to be so disappointed when it's not a train that comes out in July!!! But my blood pressure was perfect and I gained another 4 pounds (yea!) so we got the all clear until next month. I have been having daily headaches so he gave me some migraine medicine that I can take when I need to so hopefully that will help because I am sick to death of these headaches! Well, that's about all to report right now, except that we got a new car which I'll post picutres of when I take some and the car isn't covered in snow! (Yes, we got more snow today! UGH!!!!)

We're Still Here!

Sorry it's been a while since the last post. You'd think with being snowed in for so many days I'd find time to write, but I tend to find other things that are screaming for my attention like, oh, laundry! (Have I ever mentioned how much I hate doing laundry!?!? Well, I do!) Then on top of everything else I came down with a cold that I just wasn't able to shake. Every time I thought I was getting better I'd start feeling poopy again!

Today I feel much better though, and since the house is relatively clean (at least the downstairs that people see!) I thought I'd write a quick post to let everyone know we're ok. Everyone heard about the ice and snow that came barreling through this area. Luckily we got more snow and less ice. By the end of the two day snowstorm we had about 8 inches of snow in the yard, and about a half inch of ice. The ice is always the worst part. People laugh at how when it snows out here everything gets canceled. Well, out west you usually don't have to deal with the ice the way we have to deal with it here. It makes things very nasty, but boy is it beautiful! After everything finally ended last Thursday mom and I broke out to go get some junk food and we were just oohing and aahing at how beautiful everything was. Especially the trees! They were laced with ice that had snow on top of it and they just sparkled like cut glass! It was great to look at, even if it was a pain in the behind to drive in! Then on Tuesday we got more snow that started falling in the middle of the day, making the rush hour drive a nightmare. School buses got stuck and many slid off of roads, hence why our schools close when it snows! That's a liability nightmare! Mom stayed home from work yesterday and we just spent the day watching stupid daytime TV and wishing the ground hog hadn't seen his shadow on Monday! 6 more weeks of winter for us....oh please! Save me!

But, the kids did get out to play in it a bit, even though it is bitterly cold! Today the high is 20 degrees, and with the windchill it feels like 12 degrees. So you can't get out for long. Jonah's like his mommy, he doesn't like to be cold, so he doesn't last long outside in this weather! But Brianna loves it! She could stay out forever! She's definately more like Steven who loves this weather! (Wierdo!!! LOL!)

I snapped a few pictures so you could all see our winter wonderland! It sure is beautiful, even if I'm ready for it to be gone! (And this weekend it might- it's supposed to be 53 degrees on Saturday! YEAH!!!!!) And just in case you're wondering, yes Jonah is wearing a pink snowsuit in one of the pictures. He doesn't have a snowsuit and Bri can't wear this one anymore so we tortured the poor baby and put him in a pink snowsuit! Good thing he's too young to be forever scared!

Peek-A-Boo.. We See You!

Saturday we had the oppurtunity to get an early ultrasound. I had some bleeding early on and the doctor just wanted to check everything, and while we were at it make sure our dates were right. Well, there was no indication as to what was causing the bleeding, but since it's stopped it appears to just be one of those many things that can happen in early pregnancy. So that was great news! The other news...we are exactly where we are supposed to be date wise, so my dates were perfect. How many times do you get to say that?

Today I am 14 weeks, officially out of the first trimester, and feeling very glad that the morning sickness is officially gone, and enjoying the little return of energy that I've gotten so far. The only downfall is that heartburn has replaced morning sickness as my new best friend, especially after chocolate...boo!

OK, so the reason for the post and what everyone wants to see...ultrasound pics. Being the third I could actually look at the screen and recognize some of the features before she said anything so that was kind of cool. And baby waved at one point (well, it looked like waving, I'm sure it was just an involutary jerk like the bounce that we saw later in the ultrasound.) If you can't tell what anything is don't feel bad...most people can't. But the notes she wrote on the pics are pretty useful so hopefully they will help! Enjoy!

Announcement Time!

We thought that it was about time that we filled everyone in on a little secret...we are expecting baby #3! We found out a little before Thanksgiving, and we're now at the end of the first trimester so we feel like we can let everyone in on the little secret! We are due July 23rd, which is a definite change for us since Brianna was a fall baby, and Jonah was a winter baby. It will also be nice to be away from any major holidays (Bri was born a week before Thanksgiving, Jonah a week before Christmas!) But it will be very hot...and that also means a brand new layetter, because all of our newborn clothes are winter clothes! (Darn...a reason to go shopping for baby clothes! Whatever will I do with myself!??!?!)

We are very excited, even though we do think that we probably need our heads examined! Three kids will drastically change everything, but we didn't feel like our family was complete just yet. Mom always said you'll know when you're done, and we just didn't feel like we were there yet. (We'll see how we feel after this one!) Brianna tells everyone that she meets (and I do mean everyone down to people she runs into at Wal-Mart) that there is a baby in her mommy's belly. And she has put us on notice that it better be a girl, because she does not want another brother! LOL! Jonah says baby a lot, but to be honest he is completely clueless! He will be 2 years and 8 months when the baby comes (the same age I was when Chris was born) and I guess we'll just have to see how he does. He is a very easygoing child though, so I think he'll be ok as long as we are ok.

I am finally starting to feel better. The first trimester is always really hard for me, but the morning sickness (whoever named it that should be shot because mine is always more like all day sickness) is finally starting to subside. I'm starting to get my appetite back (which is good because I've lost about 7 pounds that I didn't need to loose!) and I'm starting to get a bit more energy, but I'm trying not to push my luck there. I had my first doctor's appointment on Friday and we got to hear the heartbeat. It's always so nice and comforting to hear the heartbeat, and we also got another surprise, we get to have an ultrasound this coming Saturday. The doctor wants to check the growth and make sure all our dates are correct. It's a little too soon to find out what it is...and we haven't decided if we will or not. We didn't with the other two, but I don't know! This time I kinda want to know! So we'll see when we get to that road!

So anyway. We just wanted to let everyone know our big announcement. The ticker at the top will be counting down the days with us (right now it's nicely telling me I have 193 days left!!! Aw man!!!!) and I'll keep you posted with belly pics and all that fun stuff! So stay tuned!

On An Eeyore Kind of Day

Today is the kind of day that would have made Eeyore happy. It's grey and it's cold, and the sky keeps spitting stuff that goes from snow to sleet and back to snow again. What a great day to stay in doors. We cleaned Brianna's room this morning (dusted, windows, etc.) and then after lunch and Jonah was down for his nap Bri and I had some craft time. My mom got Bri a great craft book for St. Nick and I've been meaning forever to do something with her and just haven't. Until today. We thought with the weather outside what a great day to make a snowman. So we went upstairs to my scrapbook stuff and picked out white paper, patterened paper, buttons, brads, markers and set to work. Bri is a craftly little thing. She loves to cut and glue and color. Of course there were things I had to do for her, like using the circle cutter to make the snowman's body, but she did the gluing and drawing all herself. She was so proud of her little snowman (acutally, it's a girl she pointed out to me, and insisted on drawing her some eyelashes, because only girls have eyelashes!!!) and of course, I had to get some pictures! So here's my big 4 year old (YIKES!!!) enjoying her craft time with mommy!

Isnt' it cute! I think it turned out adorable! And she did such a good job! Tomorrow she wants to make Christmas trees (yes, it's a little late for that, but since we haven't taken any Christmas stuff down yet I figure it can't do any harm!) I think a tradition of mommy and me craft time has begun! Thanks mom for getting such a great book!

Happy Birthday to Jonah..Happy Graduation to Me!

This past week has been very busy for our family. On Friday the 19th Jonah turned 2! I can't believe that my baby boy is two years old! I feel like I blinked and missed it all! He is such a happy, easy going little fellow (although the 2 year old tantrums are starting to take shape in the form of hitting, screaming and big crocodile tears!) He is finally starting to talk a lot, just a few months ago he said a few words but mainly just babbled. Now most of what he says is comprehensible so that's making mommy feel much better! He always has a smile on his face, and very quickly puts a smile on the face of others. I am so greatful that Heavenly Father sent me such a precious angel to help balance out the crazy dynamics in this family! Here are some pictures of my buddy!

Jonah at a week and a half old- New Year's Eve 2006

Jonah at 1

On Friday we had dinner and then cake and ice cream. Actually, it was a cookie and ice cream, but same difference! We were at Wal-Mart and Bri found this Elmo cookie, and Jonah went crazy! He loves Elmo and I knew I wasnt't going to get out of the store without it...so he had cookie and ice cream!

Doesn't he look so big?!?!? I can't believe it!

Saturday was another big day as I graduated (FINALLY!!!) from NKU! After 8 years of working on my degree I finally got to walk across that stage and recieve my degree! I was so excited, and it felt kind of surreal the whole time! I am so glad to be finished and get to spend some time at home with the kids. I've never been able to be home with them...I've been in school the whole time they've been alive so I'm looking forward to this time! After graduation we had an open house at Chez Nora's where dad works and celebrated my graduation and Jonah's birthday. We had a great turn out and it was nice to spend some time with our friends and family. Here are some pictures from Saturday.

My friend Lisa and I

My friend Megan and I

Dad, me and Mom

Me and family- Steven, Bri (4) and Jonah (2)

So, even though it's been wild and crazy, we've tried to enjoy the ride. Now we're getting ready for Christmas and I'll be posting lots of pictures as we have a ton of get togethers we'll be going to! We wish you and yours a very Merry and safe Christmas!