Thanksgiving

This past week(end) we celebrated Thanksgiving and {officially} kicked off the Christmas season! Although we missed being home with family for the holiday, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends here in PA. 

On Friday we went out and got our Christmas tree! Emily had her class "pet," Waldo the penguin this weekend and he helped us pick out a beautiful Fraser Fir. 

Emily and Waldo in front of our tree. 

Being adorable, posing in front of some fresh decorations. 

Someone was very pleased when we got home and set the tree up! 

On Saturday, we went to see Santa! While we were waiting for him to arrive, we visited with these nutcrackers. 

Emily made fast friends. 

We got to see the big guy, and it went over rather well. This is Emily's "smile."

Later Saturday afternoon we decorated the tree. I had explained to Emily we needed to let the branches fall overnight before we could decorate it. The next morning Emily was concerned the branches were still on the tree. Should've been more specific, I guess. 

At church on Sunday we had a visiting reverend who gave Emily a pretty star ornament, which she immediately hung on our tree when we got home. 

We also baked some Christmas cookies on Sunday. Emily "called" her dad while the cookies were baking. I guess she was concerned. 

And that brings us to the baby update. I'm about 14 weeks now. This past week I actually started feeling some movement. I was about 17 1/2 weeks when I first felt Emily. I remember I was listening to Christmas music (specifically, BandAid's "Do They Know it's Christmastime") when I first felt Emily. I've heard it happens sooner with subsequent children, but I didn't expect it to be this soon. I'm starting to worry this child may be quite large... Previously in the week I thought I might have felt something, but I wasn't sure. By Friday and Saturday I was feeling quite a lot of movement, that was unmistakeable. I guess this little one was as excited about Michigan State's win as we were!

Emily is super excited this week. Even took a break from "shopping" to take a picture with me. 

And now it's back to real life after a lovely holiday weekend. I think this coming weekend we might take Emily to have breakfast with Santa! We'll see how the week goes...

We're pregnant... again!

It's been over a year since I posted, but we've been busy. Since I last posted, I finished my PhD at Michigan State and packed up my little family to move to Pittsburgh to begin a postdoctoral position at the University of Pittsburgh. On a less positive note, our sweet Layla had severe liver failure and had to be put down last December. But we know she's once again chasing flippy-floppies on a beach somewhere!

Oh, and we found out we're pregnant again!

It's not the same not having Layla to keep watch during my weekly photos, but this go around I have a pretty adorable big sister helping!

And yes, we do match.

A friend of mine back in Richmond, VA took our family portraits for our Christmas cards this year, and we snuck a few "announcement" style pictures in as well. (In case you're wondering, it's Anika Colombo Photography and she's amazing. http://anikacolombo.com)

This is the picture we posted on Facebook to "announce" our pregnancy. Emily is mostly on board for this whole thing, but we'll see as the time draws nearer.

We didn't use this picture to announce, but it's another one of my favorites. Anika captured Em's mischievous grin perfectly. This one is trouble.

I am now about 13 weeks along and doing pretty well. I was extremely exhausted during the first trimester, per usual. The doctor did notice my iron was a bit low, which could be contributing, so she put me on an iron supplement on top of my prenatal vitamins. I had one really rough week where I felt absolutely horrible, and it was the week before we were heading to SPAIN for my best friend's wedding. Luckily, I felt much better during the trip and after returning. Must be that Mediterranean air!

I'm pretty sure I posted this last time during my pregnancy, but just as a refresher. It's pretty on point.

We have since done our first trimester screening, which includes an ultrasound and more blood draws. The amount women get poked and prodded during pregnancy is borderline absurd. But anything to make sure our little gummy bear is healthy!

A nice profile shot. 

This past weekend we headed to Philadelphia where I ran/waddled the half marathon and my friend crushed the full marathon. In April I had registered to do the full with her, but after finding out about our little gummy bear, we decided it was best not to push it. The half was more than enough. Even though I know exercise (including running) is incredibly beneficial during pregnancy, I found myself freaking out over every little twinge I felt. A slight cramp and I worried I may be pushing myself too hard. I didn't break any course records obviously, but gummy bear may have won his/her age group. I've yet to confirm this.

I had a "Baby on Board" sticker, but that fell off around mile 5. So the rest of the race I just looked like the weirdo holding her belly. Cool.

So that's where things stand right now! I'll try to update this thing somewhat regularly. For my first Mother's Day after Emily was born, my mom took my updates with all my bump pictures and made a photo book for me. It's one of my favorite gifts I've ever received. Emily and I have been looking at it recently to get her more prepared for what's going to happen. Thanksgiving this week. This is where a pregnant woman does some serious work. I'll be making my Nanny's mac and cheese, a traditional southern delicacy. I plan on eating the whole pan. 

Fall happenings

Guess who's back! I know it's been a while, but I am finally updating this thing again. We've been quite busy this fall already...

We've had some beautiful fall days, which have allowed for a lot of outside time with Layla.

 But, even with the gorgeous weather, we've spent some time inside, watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Seriously, we've watched this movie no fewer than 87 times. Girl loves the Grinch.

 We went to the pumpkin patch and "rode" in the wooden train.

 We also found some really stellar pumpkins. 3 of them have been attacked by squirrels or something and have already rotted. So basically we're left with that big one, which Em and I plan on carving this week. That is, unless the squirrels get to it first.

 Em was pretty pleased with her haul. 

 Obligatory pumpkin patch picture with Daddy...

 ... and with Mommy.

 And of course, a family shot!

 

Just carrying my pumpkin...

 

 We went to the zoo for "Boo at the Zoo." Emily decided she wanted to be a cat. She decided this when she pointed to the picture in her book of the baby dressed as a cat, and then pointed to herself. No idea if that's what she really meant, but that's what I decided she meant. So, here she is as a cat.

 Just running around. Dancing to the live music. Dragging her tail behind.

 It was a good way to work out some energy! Also, all cats should wear pink cowboy boots.

 The zoo is always a hit with Em. She LOVES the lions and tigers. The snow leopard was even out and about when we visited. Em kept patting the railing and making a "come here" motion with her hand. In her defense, when she does that to Layla, Layla comes and sees her. Kid just wanted to pet the snow leopard.

 Don't look too closely at the tutu. It's a bit of a hot mess. I swear I wasn't drunk when I made it.  Just way too impatient.

Sure, I'm biased, but she's basically the cutest cat there ever was. I mean COME ON.

In a couple days we have a trick-or-treating thing at the outdoor town center by us. We'll go there, trick-or-treat at the stores, listen to music, and drink cider and eat doughnuts. We're all pretty pumped for that. I'm not sure we'll actually go trick-or-treating on Halloween. I see no need for Em to get all that candy when I'll just end up eating it.

A Week in NC

After traveling for 3 weeks straight, we're finally back home. Have been for about a week. Just trying to get our lives back in order. Whatever that may be.

We started off our traveling adventures in North Carolina at the beach with my family. We were a bit delayed in getting there, but we eventually made it!

The first morning we were there, we went for an early morning beach walk where Emily could put her toes in the ocean. She was a huge fan of this! She was a little unsure of the sand at first, but she quickly changed her tune on that point.

 Her Nia also taught her how to splash around in the puddles. She also thoroughly enjoyed this.

We took her back out on the beach later that first day. We could convince her to sit in the shade and have some water only momentarily. Then she would point at the ocean and demand to go back out.

Even when the waves were crashing right on top of her, she was having a blast. Occasionally she would take a wave to the face, but she handled it like a champ. No worse for the wear.

Emily also enjoyed hanging out on the front porch with the pups when we were at the house during a couple rainy days. Although she kept pointing towards the ocean, like she was saying, "You fools, there's an ocean right there! We should go play!"

We also got to go on a nice dinner cruise, that unfortunately (or fortunately!) was attacked and boarded by pirates. They were pretty nice pirates, though. They knew well enough to leave the parents with young children alone.

After a couple rainy days, we made it back to the beach. Emily was pretty pleased by this. If I bribed her with a snack, she would sit in the shade for a bit. Moments after I took this picture, she finished her snack and grabbed her dad's ham sandwich. Good for her.

Most of all, she really enjoyed hanging with her big cousin, Riley. We would watch Riley ride in on a big wave and Emily would clap and laugh!

They also would swing together in the hammock.

And wear matching Topsail Turtle shirts.

Emily is definitely my daughter. She loves the beach! Which is good, because we will drag her there every year, often twice a year. After the beach, we spent some time in Virginia, and then went up to Traverse City, Michigan. I'll update with more pictures later. I felt this was probably enough for today!

A look at our past month...

Yet again I have failed to update this blog. Shocking, I know. In my defense I've been pretty busy with dissertating (yeah that's not a word, but I'm going to continue to use it) and traveling. So, this post will yet again be photo dump of pictures over the last month or so. Enjoy.

With the warmer weather, we've been able to get outside a lot more. We occasionally spend our days drawing pictures with sidewalk chalk and blowing bubbles. (Side note: bubbles are miserable with a one-year old. She has no sense of reason, so she doesn't understand why she can't eat the bubbles and/or dump them all over herself.)

Occasionally we have picnics in the backyard. Emily loves watermelon. It's borderline insane.

We've also had a couple days in her backyard pool. Not nearly as much fun as playing in her great-grandparents big pool in Virginia with her cousin, but at least the dog can get in this one with her.

We also like to sit in the shade in the Adirondack chairs and watch the squirrels and birds.

Sometimes we try to make phone calls with calculators. It rarely works.

Other days we build blanket forts in the living room and try to persuade the dog to hang out with us.

And for those long car rides back to Virginia, we bust out the old toys she hasn't seen in months. She was super pumped to see her old pal Sophie.

While in Virginia, Emily got to hang out with Nittany. They tolerated each other pretty well, but Nittany's not a huge fan of her crawling. It scares him.

Most of all, she loves spending time with her big cousin, Riley. The pool is by far her favorite place.

But the Children's Museum ain't too shabby, either.

 We also love going to the duck pond in the neighborhood to point and yell at the ducks.

 And to walk around with Daddy.

But mostly our days are spent hanging out, maybe watching the Wiggles, and eating.