We wish you a Merry Christmas!!

Well, another Christmas has come and gone. It seems like we prepare for so long and then it's gone with the blink of an eye! Andy and I enjoyed our time together and with my family this year. Christmas Eve we spent with my dad's side of the family (which has become tradition). We went down to my aunt and uncle's in Montesano where we enjoyed spending some quality with my cousins, aunts and uncles, dad, sisters, brother and grandparents! We played some fun 'games' that my aunt put together, had a delicious Prime Rib dinner and opened some presents. As usual, my grandma went all out and got everyone tons of gifts. Andy and I got a food processor (which I asked for, to help make my own baby food later..), a Walmart gift card, some lotions/body washes and Hudson even got a cute little puppy jacket and some CD's.

After opening presents we headed back to Puyallup for celebration #2 at Nancy and Kenny's house. We stayed a couple hours and caught up with some relatives we hadn't seen since last Christmas. We then headed home to let Maverick out for a couple minutes before heading to the 10 pm church service at Calvary Community Church that we have attended off and on since moving to Puyallup. The church service was perfect, we sang some traditional Christmas carols, watched as the children told the youth pastor what they wanted for Christmas and he read them a story, then listened to a short sermon on "Hope." It was wonderful to enjoy the true meaning of Christmas. I've always wanted to start a new tradition of going to church on Christmas Eve and I hope going this year has started that.

Christmas Day was more low key. Andy and I woke up around 9:30 and opened our presents from eachother and from his family that they mailed. We were thrilled to get a Canon video camera from Andy's parents!!! What a perfect gift to have just before Hudson is born. We can't wait to try it out and be able to capture all his milestones throughout his life. This will also make it much easier to share things with Andy's family since they all live across the state.

After opening presents we headed up to my mom's house for Christmas brunch. We enjoyed her delicious breakfast casserole with Nancy and Kenny, Mom and Dean, Steve, Shey, Bryce, Todd, Aunt Sharene and Tom and one of their neighbors. It was nice to spend more time with them since we hadn't seen them for long the night before. We finished off the morning/early afternoon opening a few presents and visiting before Andy and I headed home to relax before I had to come to work that night.

Overall we had a good couple days celebrating Christmas but we both agree that next year will be MUCH better with a little one around! Christmas really is about celebrating Jesus and children!!!

Andy finally got what he asks me for every year!!

Sisters!

Grandpa with a few of his granddaughters :)

Dad and Steve with matching sweaters from Grandma

Bryce and Cody playing football with Andy :)

Dean with Shey and Bryce

Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Kenny with Shey and Bryce

Cody loved the rawhide from Maverick! He didn't stop chewing it until it was gone!

Weeks 25 and 26

The last couple weeks have been filled with getting ready for Christmas. My shopping and wrapping is done and I just have a couple more things to bake tomorrow and we are ready for Christmas Eve!! I'm excited because tonight we're going to go look at Christmas lights then come home and watch a Christmas movie :) (probably The Grinch). This is definitely one of my favorite times of the year, even though it is filled with spending way too much money and eating way too much food!!



Baby Hudson is still doing great, he's been VERY active the last few days, especially when I'm at work. I was watching my stomach literally lurching from his kicks!! It's so amazing how strong he's getting. Another huge milestone we hit this week is hitting the DOUBLE DIGITS until his due date!! I can't believe in just over 3 months (give or take) we will have our SON here with us!! It's still so surreal :)



We've gotten some more done in the nursery, Andy put a second shelf in the closet and we put the valance and bedding on to see what it looks like. Now I really need to start organizing...it's just overwhelming to even think about how I want to do it. If you have any websites or blogs with organizing inspiration please let me know!!




How far along are you? 26 weeks!!! Where does the time go??



How much does baby weigh? Almost 2 pounds



Maternity clothes? Most definitely!! There's no getting regular pants (or even most shirts) around this belly anymore



Stretch marks? None yet...keeping my fingers crossed



Sleep? Finally adjusted to my shift at work, still sleeping ok, I just seem to wake up with a lot of back pain



Best moment this week? Feeling and seeing Hudson's kicks so much more often :)



Movement? ALL the time!! And I can't get enough of it. I love feeling this kicks, flutters and stretching out ..it's so amazing.



Food cravings? Surprisingly I haven't really had any. I still prefer salty foods to sweets



Milestones: In the double digits till our due date. Hudson could possibly survive outside the womb (although he can stay in there at least a couple more months)


(I'll update again after Christmas with belly pictures and Christmas pictures!)

24 weeks...and still growing strong!

Decorating Gingerbread Houses!

Me and Joy (me at 23 weeks 3 days, Joy at 26 weeks 1 day)
Daddy is so proud of the nursery he built! :)

Wow..where did this baby come from??!!

Week 23: Baby is more than 11 inches long and weighs about 1 lb! About the size of a large mango. He is able to hear things outside the womb, so all of Maverick's barking and our yelling at him will be familar when he's born! :) This week I have been starting to feel more and more movement. Some kicks have even been strong enough to see them on the outside of my stomach and through my shirt! Everytime I feel him kicking it puts a smile on my face. I just love knowing he is healthy and strong.

I also had my 23 week appointment this week. Just a routine checkup where I was weighed and the dr. listened to Hudson's heartbeat. She asked if I had any questions or concerns and I was on my way!

Week 24: Baby has gained about 4 oz. since last week and now weighs just over 1 lb. He's also about a foot long, the size of an ear of corn. His body is beginning to fill out as he adds fat in the coming weeks and his lungs are developing so he can breathe outside the womb. Another big milestone his this week is what many call "V-day"--(or viability day) at this point in the pregnancy the baby COULD be viable outside the womb...although I'd prefer him to stay in there at least a couple more months :)

I can't believe how much my stomach has been growing the past few weeks. It's amazing how fast the changes take place. Hudson is still kicking and moving like crazy. This last week Andy had an awesome surprise for me. While I was gone at a get-together he painted the entire nursery, took the furniture out of the boxes and put the crib together!! I was so surprised and excited when I saw it. Now we can start decorating and getting it all set up for the little guy!! Next on the agenda...getting another shelf put in the closet so we can get the clothes organized.

Aside from the pregnancy progress Christmas is in full swing around here. Last week I pulled out the Christmas decorations and got most of them set up. Then Saturday Andy and I went and picked out a beautiful Christmas tree. Saturday night we went to Joy and Dan's Christmas party. Joy made a delicious dinner with all the fixings and afterwards we decorated Gingerbread houses! Unfortunately mine and Andy's house didn't want to stay standing, so it didn't turn out how we envisioned it, but we still had a blast.. thanks guys!

Now I'm just trying to finish up my Christmas shopping so I can get it all wrapped and done with early this year! I hate trying to last minute shop :)