Announcing Scooter!

Born May 2, 2009 @ 1:31pm

7lbs 11oz - 20” long

Original due date 5/9/09

On Saturday morning I woke up around 2am with what I thought to be Braxton Hicks contractions. I was really annoyed because I knew it was going to be a long night and we had a volunteer training at church at 8:30am. Around 5am I went back up to bed, I woke Mr. M up at 6am. I said, “Hey honey, do you want to go to the volunteer training today or to the hospital to have a baby?” He woke up pretty quick!

We discussed it and thought maybe we would stick with our plans of going to church since it would probably be awhile before we headed to the hospital. Almost as soon as we said that, the pain set in! My contractions were varying from 5-9 minutes apart but were lasting longer than a minute. We called my Mom and Dad and I texted my niece who was coming to stay with the kids. She got over pretty quick and sat with me through my contractions helping us time them. We decided we should head over to the hospital.

We got there around 9am and they made me go in a wheel chair up to L&D. They put me right into a room and decided to check me before they did anything. I was nervous because my Dr. just checked me on Thursday afternoon and I was not dilated at all and was still very thick. Plus this is usually where they tell me I need to go walk because I am not dilating. I had made a deal with my Dr. that she was going to let me get my epidural right away if I was in a lot of pain…but she was not on call this weekend. They checked me and I was 3 CM!!!! I couldn’t believe it! The nurse wasn’t too impressed until I told her that my Dr. checked me on Thursday and I was at 0. Plus I gave her a brief history of my previous labor experiences. They decided to let me get my epidural right away! I had to get an IV to get fluids first and they needed to put me on antibiotics since I was GBS+.

After my epidural kicked in, I was a happy camper! Mr. M calls it ‘better living through chemistry’. I could tell I was having contractions but they were not painful. When they checked me after the epidural was all set, I was already at 5cm. Things are moving pretty quickly! I have to say the funniest thing that happened during this delivery was that my bottom kept shaking. It was like my butt was doing the jig and I couldn’t control it! The nurse said that is usually a sign that things are going to happen pretty quickly. She checked me again and I was at 7cm!

At this point I knew the Dr. was in the middle of a c-section, which made me a little nervous. I usually go pretty fast at the end and have nearly delivered on the so-called ‘practice pushes’. I told the nurse I really wanted to wait for the Dr. to come in so she just started getting everything ready. The Dr. came out of the c-sec and into my room and I was at 10cm and it was time to push. The first push nothing really happened but I wasn’t in the position I wanted to be in so I asked if I could move my legs and they were of course all for whatever I needed to do.

I pushed again and the head came out, at which point they made me stop so they could suction out his mouth and nose. That’s when they tell you to stop pushing…which is VERY uncomfortable! He said to go ahead with 1 more push and the baby was out. They all announced it was a boy!!! I clapped, I was so happy! Now we have 2 girls and 2 boys! I got a good look at him at this point and I thought he looked much smaller then my other baby’s. When they finally weighed him in at 7lbs 11oz I knew why! That is smaller than the 9lbers I am used to having! I haven’t seen 7lbs since my first born. He is absolutely gorgeous, not that I am biased or anything, and just as sweet as can be! He looks a lot like his brother did. We are home now and everyone is doing well, although very tired!

Easter weekend!

Good Friday started out wonderful! I had an ultrasound scheduled for the morning and we finally were able to get a great shot of the baby's face!! Can you believe them cheeks?! I was so happy to finally be able to see this baby! At the end, the nurse said we were now going to see how much the baby weighs. I was kind of joking and said, "oh please don't let it be 7lbs yet." She said, "nooooo, it wouldn't be that big yet...we have...6lbs 11oz." I sat straight up and looked at her, "are you serious?! I still have 4 weeks!!' Later my Mom asked me how much more weight the baby will gain. I told her it's an estimate of about a pound a week...she started cracking up laughing...I told her it's not funny!!!! In all seriousness, I am not freaking out for real...the same thing happened with my son and he was 9lbs 4oz and I pushed him out just fine...but I do hope this one isn't much bigger! My precious baby's face!!
This is me on Easter Sunday, I am 36 weeks (and 1 day)!
So we have been doing our Easter a little different the last couple of years and we really like it! We do our Easter egg hunt and baskets on Saturday instead of Sunday. I always felt so stressed and rushed cause we needed to get to church. Now it's very relaxing and fun! On Good Friday Mr. M ended up having the day off so we colored Easter eggs and cookies. It was so much fun and Little Man was so patient this year!! Usually it's a little stressful helping him but he was so good!





On Saturday morning we had our egg hunt which the kids really enjoyed. First they came down and saw their baskets and Little Man's face was just priceless! Then we let Little Man start out with the hunt. We hide his pretty visible and easy...he actually was so good he found some of Princess's eggs! Next it was Princess's turn and she had a lot of fun too, she even found a couple of Tinkerbell's. Then it was Tinkerbell's turn. She wanted us to hide them really well...and we did. After she found about 4 of her 12 she told us that we hid them too hard!! We had to laugh at that. She did end up finding them all and we didn't even have the long lost egg like we usually do.

For lunch we made a big ham dinner and had my family over. It was a very relaxing day and that afternoon while Mr. M laid down with Little Man for a nap, my parents and I played Tinkerbell's new game called Sequence. It was a lot of fun and so nice to have some time with just my parents and I. After 2 games the girls realized we were playing and had to play too so Mom started cleaning up and we played one game with the girls. Then it was time to go to church! Our church had a Saturday night service this year and since we were going to be serving at both services on Sunday, we decided to go. WOW! There was over 1000 people at this service! It was great and what an awesome service as well!

So on Sunday morning my Mom & Dad picked me up for church since Mr. M didn't have to be there early. We went and got all set up for check in for 1st - 5th graders. I got the girls all ready before I left and hubby just had to get Little Man ready. I am so happy I got their outfits this year!! They looked just precious!!
So our church decided to do an outdoor Easter egg hunt this year! Mr. M brought the kids to that and I think they all had a great time!



For 2nd service my parents and I served again in the check in area for 1st - 5th grades and Mr. M served in the actual service part of it. I love serving at my church and it's so nice doing it all together as a family! I sure do appreciate my parents!!

After church was over we came home and had lunch and then Little Man, Princess, and I all took naps! I was hoping it would help my feet some and give me some much needed rest. Hubby tried to take a nap but I was too noisy so he went down and hung out with Tinkerbell. Later in the afternoon we went out to my friend's parents house. I am very close with her family and they invited us out to their annual family egg hunt. We got some great shots of the kids and as any time we spend with them...it was great!!


By the time we got home last night my feet and ankles were HUGE!! You could even push the liquid around under my skin! When I woke up this morning they were a little better but now already they are not doing well again.

It was such a great Easter weekend and I am so thankful to the Lord for not only what He did for you and I; but also for giving me such a wonderful church, a marvelous family, and great friends that I am surrounded with. I love you all!!!

Introducing...

My new blog background! You didn't really think I had the baby or something did you? Or that I was going to play an April Fools Day joke on you? Yeah, I don't do the whole April Fools Day thing. Although a good friend of mine did something funny to her kids and I can't wait to hear how it turned out! In the middle of the night, she switched her kids around from what bedroom they were sleeping in so they will wake up in their siblings beds. I could never do that as my kids are incredibly light sleepers...but I can't wait to hear how it went!

Another joke I heard about was on my baby center board for women due in May. Some of them are going to call their hubby's today and tell them it's time to have the baby...I just don't think Mr. M would find that very funny! I also don't think I would get a chance to tell him it was only a joke before he left work and came home. So I don't think I'll be doing that one today either!

I did have my doctors appt yesterday and that went really well! The baby is now head down and I really hope he/she stays that way! Heartbeat is strong and I am measuring right on. We also got to tour Labor and Delivery! It was so nice and I am very excited about delivering there! One of our Pastors and their wives just had a baby and they were still there so we got to stop in and say hi and see their ADORABLE baby girl, how precious! I can not wait to be on that end of this whole journey and to be holding my baby in my arms!!

So next Friday I have another ultrasound and then the following Thursday is my next doctor appt and we start every week at that point!! I can not believe it!! 38 days from today is my EDD! It has been a long journey and I am starting to see the dim light at the end of the tunnel!!

Come in like a lion...go out like a lamb?

Ok, so most of you have heard the old saying If March comes in like a lion, it goes out like a lamb. Well the beginning of March was yucky! Very cold...it was a high of 21!! Here are some pics from Sunday afternoon (3/29).
So when exactly does the lamb part come in??! I mean, it is 46 today...but rainy, really rainy! Hopefully it will be enough rain to melt all the snow! Mr. M only shoveled a path for us to get to the car for church on Sunday and for the car to get out of the driveway.

Next week...which will be April...we have a possibility of more snow. I mean, seriously? Our church is planning an outdoor Easter egg hunt for the kids. I think I might go buy some fleece material this week and make some leggings for the girls. Cause even if it's not snowing...I think it might still be cold. And they are wearing dresses!

I wonder if we will even have Spring here...or will we just go right for Summer?

My Birthday!

Wow! What a great birthday I had! Yesterday was my 35th birthday! Last Thursday, Mr. M planned a whole date for us, including babysitting. We went to a Fish Market restaurant for dinner and I got the best crab cakes! Then we went to Rosemont Theater...I did not know what was playing. As we were walking from the parking lot to the front of the building, I saw a big semi that said 'Riverdance'! I was so excited!!! It definitely lived up to my expectations of wanting to see it all these years! It was a great night and it was really nice to be able to celebrate my birthday with Mr. M since we can't even remember the last time he was home for my birthday.

Then on Saturday my parents and neice came over and my Mom made me my favorite meal, her chicken and dumplings. Mmmmmm mmmmmmmm were they good!! My neice got me the most beautiful flowers, they were so exotic looking, I have no idea what they are but they are really pretty! My parents got me a new Boppy pillow! It's a pillow to help when I nurse the baby and I really wanted a new one but just couldn't see buying one since this is our last baby. It's so awesome and it has a removable, washable cover!! That's how I ruined our other one, I washed the whole thing and it got all messed up. I can't WAIT to use it!!!

Yesterday which was my actual birthday, we finally had some cake! Mr. M stopped on his way home and got me an ice cream cake from Coldstone Creamery, it was pretty good! It's a good thing he got one too cause Little Man kept saying all weekend, "Mommy birthday? Cake?!" We all thoroughly enjoyed it!!

What a great birthday it was! I know it bothers some people to get older, it doesn't bother me. I feel so blessed to have another year! People should look at birthdays like anniversary's. When you tell people you have been married for 35 years, they are in awe! They think what a wonderful thing, we should celebrate!! It should be the same thing with birthdays! What a wonderful thing to be 35!! Not everyone lives to be 35. How awesome that the Lord has given me another year to live for Him and to spend with my family and friends. Yes, I will still feel this way at 40, 50, 60, and beyond! I have a great example! My Mom!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Wow, I can't believe I am a day late on this one! Yesterday wasn't such a great day for me. I have had a terrible head and chest cold. I had a Dr. appt. yesterday afternoon and thankfully she gave me an antibiotic. I am already feeling a bit better today but now I feel like I can't hear out of either ear! So it's a good thing I got the meds.

The pregnancy is going well. Baby's heartbeat sounds great and my belly is measuring right where it should be. I have no idea what position this baby is in since it keeps moving around so much but I know that it's up in my ribs now. Wow does this hurt!! I sure hope the baby moves again soon!

So today I am making our traditional corned beef and cabbage! We didn't have it last year since Mr. M wasn't home and I didn't remember to buy it this year. He went to the store yesterday to get some stuff for grilling out (since it was 70 here!!!) and he brought home corned beef and cabbage, so I am cooking it today! A day late but we are both really excited about it!!

With the beautiful weather we had the last few days I can not wait for spring...real spring! My friend who shares my birthday on March 23rd put on her facebook...how much will we pay for this nice weather and will it be in feet or inches? I keep telling Mr. M that he shouldn't get too excited yet! I was born in an ice storm and I have had snow many a year on my birthday! We have also had snow many a year for Easter. So I'm not sitting comfortable just yet!

I need to get out and do some shopping! I need to get Easter outfits for the kids and Little Man really needs some new shoes for church. He has tennies and black dress shoes but most of his clothes call for brown shoes. He also has finally moved up to 3T for pants. They are still a little long but not nearly as bad as his highwater 2T's!! I wish I weren't in so much pain so I could just go do it! The other day Mom and I went to 2 stores at the outlet, she even moved the truck so I wouldn't have to walk, then Target, and Woodmans and I could barely walk by the time I got home. Something about the floors in those stores just kills my back right now!! I'm gonna have to rent one of those scooters next time! Lol.

We are getting very excited about planting our garden and building the kids a swingset! We will be spending a lot of time in our back yard this spring and summer! We also hope to go camping a bit! Our first trip is scheduled for Father's Day weekend...the baby will be 6 weeks if I go on time. Maybe I'll go early and the baby will be 8 weeks!! Wouldn't that be nice! We also have a trip planned for the 4th of July to go down to Missouri to see family, like a mini family reunion! It will be nice to see everyone. While Mr. M was deployed, my Grandpa passed away, and 1 Aunt and 1 Uncle. I felt so horrible that I couldn't be there with everyone but I couldn't get from VA to MO with 3 kids, it was just too far. So I will be so happy to see everyone, and I'll get to see my Brother and his family whom I haven't seen in quite awhile!

I hope you all are enjoying the wonderful month of March so far! Only 3 more days till "Spring" and only 5 more days till my birthday! Mmmmm mmmmm, Mom's chicken and dumplin's! Can't wait!

In Memory of Aidan

Keith & Jessica are old friends of ours from when we lived in Virginia Beach years ago. After we moved away they had a baby, a precious baby boy. He lived for 4 &1/2 hours. We had not been in contact with them at the time, but knew about it through mutual friends. We just recently got back in contact with each other which is such a blessing! Some good friends of theirs are running in the Shamrock Marathon on March 22nd in honor of little Aidan. Below is the information.

In December 2002, my friends Keith and Jessica’s little boy Aidan was born. Sadly, he only lived for 4 ½ hours. His life was shortened because of Trisomy 13, which is also called Patau Syndrome. A trisomy is a genetic disorder/syndrome, chromosome disorder or chromosomal anomaly. A trisomy means an extra chromosome is added to one of the normal pairs that are found in our body’s cells. This extra chromosome causes a pattern of birth defects and medical problems.

And now six years later, Aidan continues to impact my life. He was all I could think about when I started training for the Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach, Virginia on March 22nd, 2009.

I decided that I wanted this marathon to mean something more. I have teamed up with Noah’s Never Ending Rainbow to raise money and awareness of Trisomy and chromosomal conditions as well as a way to honor Aidan.

As a little background, the mission of Noah's Never Ending Rainbow is to educate, advocate, raise public awareness, promote strategic alliances and assist families who have children with Trisomy and related chromosome disorders. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization.

You are receiving this letter because I have a feeling that you, too, want to be a part of this effort. It is my hope that you will consider donating in honor of Aidan during this race to support Noah's Never Ending Rainbow as they help families just like my friends, Keith and Jessica.

You can easily donate in two ways. You can write a check to Noah's Never Ending Rainbow, with the words “Shamrock Marathon” in the memo line. You can also directly call their office at 262.605.3690 to make a donation by credit card.

If you write a check, it can be sent directly to the following address:

Noah's Never Ending Rainbow
7737 6th Avenue
Kenosha, Wisconsin 53143

Your donation to Noah's Never Ending Rainbow is tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law and you will receive a letter of acknowledgment from them for your generous donation.

I am excited that I can honor Aidan and bring awareness when I run on March 22nd. I know that Keith and Jessica, along with the two healthy boys they have had since Aidan, will be there when I cross the finish line. I hope you too will be a part of our finish line celebration through your generous donation.

Thank you in advance for your support,

Jodi Brock

P.S. You can check out these websites for more information:

Run4aidan blog: http://run4aidan.blogspot.com/

Shamrock Marathon: www.shamrockmarathon.com

Noah's Never Ending Rainbow: www.noahsneverendingrainbow.org

Happy March!

Happy March everyone! March is a great month! Of course, it is my birthday month, so I might be a little biased. Have you ever heard the saying 'March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb'? Well, it definitely came in like a lion this year! It was very cold yesterday and today we got more snow. There was a Nor'Easter on the East coast and they even got snow in NC where my sister-in-law is. So, I guess that means that March will go out like a lamb...which will be really great! We are really looking forward to warmer weather and planting a garden this year!

Of course, March has St. Patrick's Day as well. I have some Irish in me and I certainly look Irish and I love St. Patrick's Day! So that is always fun to celebrate! Then on March 23rd I will be 35!!! I'm not one of those people who get all freaked out about my age. I am thankful to the Lord for every year that I have and every birthday that I have. Plus, you are only as old as you feel...and although I am feeling kind of old these days with this pregnancy...in general, I still feel pretty young!

Speaking of my pregnancy, at almost every appointment I go to for OB, my Dr. somehow manages to mention my 'advanced maternal age'. Which is so lovely to hear! I mean really, I'm not THAT old!! But there is definitely a difference even in being pregnant with Little Man when I was 32 vs this.

So I am hoping that March is going to be a great month and bring some Spring weather our way. Happy birthday to all my other family and friends who are March babies too! March is the best!

Disappointment

Today started out so great...actually it started yesterday. A good friend of mine had an in home party and while I didn't buy anything, we ended up staying really late and just chatting. It was so fun...and we ate chocolate fountain stuff! Yummy that was good.

I was up late with bad heartburn (due to said chocolate fountain) and from the excitement about what Saturday would bring. We were driving to Chicago to get a 3D ultrasound done!! I couldn't wait to see my sweet baby's little face!

My Mom & Dad came over in the morning to watch the kids for us cause we were going to the membership class at our church from 9-12. That was fun! It was a big class and although we already knew most of the information, it's always nice to see Pastor's Kevin and Dan! So as of tomorrow morning we will be members of KFA...I know, it's about time!

We came home and ate lunch, which was really yummy! Mr. M made egg salad sandwich and he makes it so good! I only like it when he makes it! We printed out directions to the ultrasound place and off we went. Mom came with us too!

I was glad we left early cause the traffic was crazy and we ended up getting there with just enough time to use the bathroom and it was time! Mr. M and I were both able to lay up on the bed, which was really cool, he was more a part of it that way. The tech came in and we told her we definitely did not want to know the gender of the baby. After a few minutes, she told us that the baby was in a really bad position. She was going to give us about 10 minutes to try and move around, drink some water, and eat a snack to try and get the baby moving. If the baby did not move we weren't going to be able to do the ultrasound today.

The baby is laying with it's back toward my stomach and the face toward my back. So we could see the back of the head and the spine great! We prayed, I drank water, I ate a snack, I layed on both sides and even got up on all 4's to try and get the baby to move. No such luck. We were not going to be able to do it today. We can reschedule.

When I got up to put my shoes on and get ready to go, I just lost it. I started balling. I know it seems silly to cry over something like this...I mean, really, I am having a healthy baby in 10 weeks, what's to cry about, right?! I guess it was just my excitement and hormones. I just really wanted to see my sweet baby's little face. Something to focus on for the next 10 weeks. I know when we got it done with Little Man, I watched our DVD every day till he was born!! I took all his pictures with to the hospital so I could focus on them during labor.

I don't know if we will reschedule or not. Mr. M says we will. It's such a long drive. He wanted to reschedule for next week. We have no guarantee that the baby will move though. I am having an ultrasound at my OB on Thursday to check baby's growth and some other things so they will be able to tell me if the baby has moved, then maybe we will reschedule for the following week. I am getting to the point where the baby will start moving down soon and it's getting more crowded which can also make it difficult to get good pics. Maybe it just wasn't meant to be.

My New Blog!

So what do you think of my new background? I found this place online where there are free backgrounds and very easy to use! It's called The cutest blog on the block and I really am having fun with it! I had a February one up for a few days but I just could not wait to do March! I love it and I finally figured out how to fix the kids pics on the side bar. I updated them and then it kept cutting them in half...but it's all fixed now! Plus I added a whole bunch of pics at the bottom of the side bar on the left, so scroll down and enjoy watching my kids grow!

March is going to be a busy month for us so hopefully that means lots of blogging, right?!

Happy Valentine's Day!

There are so many Bible verses that talk about love.

Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.

Song of Solomon 2:16a
My lover is mine, and I am his.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 &13

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails....And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Ephesians 5:33
However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Colossians 3:14
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

1 Peter 4:8
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

1 John 3:18
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

Love is so many different things. In the beginning of our marriage, we did have some tough times. I was a spoiled brat and I have a bad temper. Mr. M put up with a lot from me! He also had his own issues too.

When we got married, I don't know that we really knew what love was. We loved each other in what we thought was love...but it was more of an emotion. Over the 14 & 1/2 years that we have been married, we have made a choice to love each other. Through the good times and the bad. Through the times when all we wanted to do was give up. Through the times when it was so hard to forgive each other that it actually hurt. Through the times when we had no money and were eating ramen noodles for dinner. Through the birth and continual raising of 3...soon to be 4 kids.

Love is not an emotion, it's not the butterflies you get when you see your loved one (although that's a great thing too!), it's not having a perfect relationship where no one argues or hurts someone else's feelings. Love is a choice. You can choose to love...beyond faults. You can choose to love through forgiveness. You can choose to love by not keeping a record of wrongs...a lot of us women are really great at keeping records!

So on this Valentine's Day, when we celebrate love...I am celebrating the choices that my husband and I have made. To love one another. To stand by each other's side...come what may.

I love you honey and I am so thankful to the Lord for choosing you for my life long companion. I am so thankful for the husband and father that you are and that you strive to follow Jesus in everything you do. Today, and every day, I choose to love you.

Disney on Ice

What a magical time we had!! Last weekend we went to see Disney on Ice: 100 years of Magic. It was so great! We went with some great friends of ours and we celebrated one of their daughters 7th birthday. Tinkerbell dressed up as Jasmine...although she wanted to dress up as Tinkerbell...the costume is just too small for her now! Princess dressed up as Ariel and we even curled her hair! My friends 2 younger little girls dressed up as Belle and Aurora. They were all so beautiful! It didn't work out for my friends oldest daughter to dress up as Snow White so she decided she would be the Princesses assistant...although I think she did a much better job at being the little princes assistant...and a great big help to me!

You know how we love Disney and while we all want to go to Disney World so bad right now...this definitely was really awesome! We almost thought we were going to be late since we weren't watching the clock during lunch...but we made it in perfect timing! We had seats in the 10th row and it was VERY close!!

There were so many different characters in this program! They did little mini stories from Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Finding Nemo, Pinocchio, Incredibles, Mulan, Lion King, and Toy Story. Plus most of the princesses were there with their princes! And of course we got to see lots and lots of Mickey and Minnie Mouse!!

I think the best part of the show though...was watching my kids enjoy the show! The girls were just in awe with smiles on their faces the whole time! Little Man was hilarious!! Every time Mickey would come out, he'd wave his little hand and yell, "Hi Mickey!!!" Then when he would go away Ethan would ask, "where's Mickey? Is he taking a nap?" And every time a beautiful princess would come out he would say, "Wook Mowwy!" Trying to get the attention of the birthday girl so she could see the princesses.

We had a wonderful, magical, Disney time and it really makes us want to go to Disney World even more right now!! Although I don't think I could handle our normal Disney routine being 7 months pregnant!!

So I had some camera issues that day of course. Just after the show started my battery died (we are going to buy an extra battery this weekend!). So I had to get out the old point and shoot, which is a pretty good little camera but just not great for shows like this with the lighting and all. Luckily my friend had her awesome camera and will be giving me copies of her pics. So enjoy some of the pics of mine that did turn out and have a magical day!!

New Computer!

I'm so excited! That I just can't hide it! I'm about to lose control and I think I like it!

Ahhhhhhhh....we finally got a new computer. No more waiting forever for sites to come up, no more only being able to have one window open at a time, no more frozen computer when I am trying to blog!!

Right now I am blogging and chatting with my sister in law on google at the same time! It's so amazing!

I am hoping this will greatly increase my blogging and adding pictures to my blog since it won't take me so long. That last post took me from Jan. 11th till Feb 2nd!

We just have to get all our stuff transferred over from the old computer which Mr. M is working on and then we will be all set!

Now if I could just get my new computer to clean my house......

Our year in pictures!

Wow, it's February already! The post says January 11th...but really it took me till Feb. 2nd to post this! I know I haven't blogged since like, mid-December. Life is crazy! And I'm tired...pretty much all the time now. Mr. M and I were looking back on 2008 and it is just amazing to see all the things that the Lord has brought us through and all the blessings that He has bestowed upon us!

In January, Mr. M was still in Iraq. The kids and I (and our cat) rang in the new year in Wisconsin. We had traveled there for the holidays and stayed for about a month! We left on the 3rd and ended up stopping at our good friends house in PA. We try to get together once a year to see each other and this would be our short visit. Whenever we get together we take a pic of all our kids. I had my 3 and she had 5! While I was there they shared with us that they were expecting #6! I was so happy for them and baby boy Nathan was born in September to this great family! Here is our 8!

On February 1st, Mr. M was promoted to a Lieutenant! It was very exciting and I was so proud of him. I wasn't able to be there with him since he was in Iraq, but he had a nice ceremony outside one of the palaces there and he sent me pics. Also in February we reached the halfway point for him being there! And the Packers ALMOST made it to the Superbowl!


March was a fun month! My Mom came to visit for my birthday which just happened to fall on Easter this year! So we had her there for both! We had such a great visit! The girls got American Girl Dolls for Easter which they love!

April was filled with lots to do! Doctor's and dentists appt's, we finished school, baseball started, there was a tornado, preparing for Mr. M to come home, and we got to go to NC to visit my cute little nephew and celebrate his 1st birthday!


Finally May had come!! The month that Mr. M was coming home! We had some ups and downs (and delays) but at last...the day came! It was so wonoderful and joyous! Then of course the next day we drove to Florida and went to Disney World for 10 days! Ahhh, May was the best!


In June we spent a lot of time just being a family again! We went camping and we also celebrated Little Man's 2nd birthday on one camping trip!



July was very busy with Tink's 1st time at camp (I went with as a counselor!), our packout (which Mr. M did by himself with Princess and Little Man in tow), and preparing our house to be rented. We also celebrated Princess's 6th birthday by going to Water Country with some friends! I can't find my pics from that since we were in transit, they may still be on the camera! But here is a really cute pic of our little princess!

August was the big move! We packed up all the stuff we had left and left Virginia. The day we were trying to leave their was a huge storm...it was almost as if Virginia didn't want to let us go! Mr. M drove the van pulling the camper and I drove the car. It was a very long trip! We were so happy to get to Wisconsin! I have no pics from August, cause again, they are still on our old camera and I don't know where the cord is to download them and I don't want to put off this post ANY longer!!! But August was great getting settled at Mom & Dad's, camping, riding bikes, enjoying the weather, and going back to our old church!

September was bittersweet for me! We found out on Labor Day that we are expecting baby #4! This was a planned and prayed for pregnancy and we were ecstatic...then the morning sickness hit. It was a tough time, although not as bad as when I was pregnant with Little Man...but miserable none the less. We did manage to have some good times camping and Princess learned to ride her bike without training wheels!! We are so proud! Mr. M also took the kids to the zoo and we got a family pass. Oh yeah ~ I also got my new camera!!

October we finally were able to move into our own place! It was so great of my parents to let us stay with them as long as we needed to...but we were pretty cramped! Our house in VA finally rented out and we rented a house here. It's a great house and a true blessing! We celebrated Tinkerbell's 10th birthday...her first double digit! She had some girlfriends over and they had a movie night, it was fun! We also celebrated our 14th anniversary! Wow! Of course we didn't do too much since I was still very sick.

November meant the begining of the holiday season and holiday baking! The kids had so much fun making pies with Mr. M! Also right before Thanksgiving I finally started to feel better! We had a great Thanksgiving with my family...and way too much food as usual!

December brought more festivities, more baking, and more family! First, the girls were in a Christmas play at church with their Junior Bible Quiz program. Tink was a shepherd and she got to sing in a trio. Princess was an angel and she had a line in the play. They both were adorable and did a great job! Mr. M's parents and sister all came to visit for Christmas and we had a great time decorating cookies, opening presents and just spending quality time with everyone. This was the first year that Little Man was really fun with opening presents! I gave Mr. M a special book that I made of pictures from our holiday's last year when he was in Iraq, he really loved it!

Oh yeah, we got lots...and lots...and LOTS of snow!!!
All in all, 2008 was a great year with many changes for our family! We are excited about all the changes coming up for 2009 as well! I am going to try and do better on my blogging so that my fans (HA!) can keep up with us!