Wondering where I've been?  Yeah, I've been busy, but now have lots to share!

CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK:

The holiday season was an interesting one for us. . .

Our trip to New York was littered with flight delays and frustrations, the result of bad weather everywhere.  And, I discovered that traveling thirty-two weeks pregnant is basically miserable.  Nevertheless, we did arrive in Rochester. . . at 4am Christmas Eve. . . and it felt good to be home! 

Later that morning, we received a call from the hospital that Grandma W. (who had emergency open-heart surgery just a few days prior) was being discharged.  I accompanied Mom and Dad to the hospital to see Grandma and receive all the care instructions.  (Nathanael stayed home with the kids, who entertained him with the knocking out of Caleb's front tooth!)  Well, Mom and Dad's house is a split-level, meaning with all those stairs, it's not a good a place to recover from heart surgery.  So, actually, Grandma W. moved in with my Grandma S. for a quiet and comfortable place of recovery.  Okay, it was mostly quiet. . .  

That evening, all the family converged upon Grandma's living room for a celebration of the season!  Every year, Grandma S. asks someone to lead a devotion time before the singing of Christmas songs and opening of presents.  This year, she asked Nathanael, and I was proud of the thought he put into it, as it was perfect for the events which we were experiencing.  Then, we tore into packages!  And, overall, it was a fun night with family!

Christmas morning we awoke at Mom and Dad's to the excitement of all the kids.  It was so fun to watch them open their Indiana Jones (Gunner), karaoke (Sammi and Hailey), motorcycle (Matt), etc. themed gifts!  When "all" the packages had been opened, and Mom's spectacular Christmas brunch eaten, Dad announced that there was one more present to be opened.  After tying the four youngest kids together (in an effort to force them to work together), Mom presented them with a clue. . . which led to the start of a scavenger hunt.  In the end, they made their way to a box (that was wrapped like fifty times) which. . . was. . .a. . . Wii!  They were speechless!  They just stared at the box as if to say, "Is that really what's in there?!"  Then, they just broke out in excited laughter!  Nathanael and I and others of the older siblings were in on it all as well and bought extra controllers, games, and accessories to go along with it!  As it turns out, it's a blast to play! 

For the rest of our vacation, Than and I stayed at Grandma S.'s house in the upstairs guest bedroom/ bathroom.  In the mornings we chatted over coffee with both of the grandmas, and tried, especially, to encourage Grandma W. who, as you can only imagine, was experiencing some post-surgery blues.  I think it was good that we were there with them.  Although, not staying at Mom and Dad's house felt. . . different.

Mom, Steph and Heidi had a surprise baby shower for me!  What fun!  Because we were traveling by plane, Stephanie encouraged the giving of gift cards, which I actually loved.  We can't wait to go shopping for Hopelet!  Of course, then, she herself gave us a giant stuffed giraffe which took up almost an entire suitcase. . . but, I love it too! 

My nieces, Ava and Mia, are a trip!  I have forgiven them (for the most part) for loving their Uncle Than more than their awesome Auntie Heath.  Ava has the princess smile and fairy twirl down pat. . . and that diva attitude that goes along with it, naturally.  Mia loves to be held; I think she took to Uncle Than because of how he held her and hummed to her the whole time.

Other fun events from our trip included: taking the kids to see "Bedtime Stories" (great movie, we thought); bringing home Tim Horton's donuts and mochas; game night; girls' movie night; etc. 

I so enjoyed time with my family, but as always, it passed far too quickly! 

BACK AT HOME:

Than and I are right back to work at the church and school.  But, we don't have any classes this semester, which is a huge burden lifted!  So, Than is getting ready for his high school spring music ministry tour, set for April.  And, I'm getting ready for maternity leave!

Yesterday, while Nathanael was snowboarding, I did a little rearranging and cleaning of the apartment, mainly in the nursery.  I didn't get as much done as I would have liked (because Than came home earlier than I was expecting and made me slow down), but I felt fairly accomplished at the end of the day.  Freshly washed baby blankets and sleepers are like the sweetest smelling things ever.  I feel like I'm just about ready. . .

HOPELET ("WATERMELON"):

As for the baby and our progress. . . we're doing just great, now at thirty-five weeks!  Two weeks ago today, I had to go to the hospital for a little non-stress test (due to significantly decreased fetal movement).  But, our little watermelon is just peachy!  A quick ultrasound revealed that amniotic fluid levels are good, and over an hour with the fetal monitor confirmed that everything is fine.  It turns out that Baby is just running out of space. . .

I had another appointment today, and in case you're interested in the stats: I've gained nineteen pounds; Baby is in perfect position; I'm not dilating, but thinning nicely for this stage in the game. . . So, hopefully, we'll have a baby in less than five weeks! 

WE'RE MOVING:

As in, from this weblog to this work-in-progress here.  If you've been patient enough to act interested and read through my account of the recent goings on, you shall soon be rewarded with pictures at the new weblog destination!

Heather

We're heading into it!  Here's a picture of twenty-seven weeks. . .

We're up five pounds now, but with Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, I suspect that number will leap considerably!  After six to seven enjoyable weeks of pregnancy, I am entering month seven with a return to my woes of the first twenty weeks.  Alas, I'm exhausted and nauseous (at least to a lesser degree, though), and additionally, I have welcomed the "joys" of back pain, sciatica, leg cramps, insomnia, etc.  That's not a complaint so much as an announcement that Nathanael is taking very good care of me!  I am loved and spoiled by him.

Hopelet is super active, but I have yet to grow tired of all the movement.  It's really an incredible experience!  Surely, he/she will be a lover of music, if these prenatal kicks of approval are any indication.  And, quite special is the way the baby responds to Nathanael's voice.

As I mentioned in my last post, we are acquiring necessities for our little Hopelet and enjoying seeing the "nursery" come together.  Oh, we still have quite a ways to go, but progress is certainly being made.  I love to sit in there and talk to our Honeydew. 

The next few weeks are expected to literally fly!  Than and I will be partaking of a Thanksgiving feast with some friends and also celebrating seven years since the day we met in Florida.  Our plans for Christmas include a big trip to New York.  Then, from there, we'll be just eight weeks (or so) away from the much-anticipated arrival of Hopelet!

Enjoy the upcoming holidays and festivities!

Heather