I Love My Family!

Ryan and I were able to go out to MN this year for Christmas and I got to meet sweet little Abby Joy.  She is such a good baby and has set a very high standard for our daughter.  Ryan held her for under a minute when he was too loud, woke her up and my mom just put her in Ryan's lap.  I don't think he moved.  Every time I held Abby, our baby was moving around, kicking her poor cousin...I think it means they are best friends already.

We had so much fun just hanging out and eating.  Ryan did stay busy with all the other family members so he didn't do as much sitting around, but I am sure he did just as much eating :]  Mark and Ryan even discovered a pond in our backyard we didn't know existed and immediately went and bought hockey sticks, I think they had some pretty good falls out there...but were like kids on Christmas!

And just because my brother in law, Jonathan, is so talented and made these for Ryan, I had to advertise!  J.Ellis- find him on FB!

It's 2012 so this means we are just around the corner from having baby pee.  8 more weeks!  Everyone has been talking about all these babies coming early... I am still in denial and assume she won't be here until March, we will see.

32 week bump.  I feel a lot bigger than this bump looks!

HAPPY 2012!

Christmas Dress Up.

This last weekend was my VWR Christmas Party.  We had a great time with all my coworkers and ended up staying up until after midnight!  Let's just say we had also planned a date night for Saturday at Mozambique in Laguna, we ended up back at our house watching a Christmas movie and both fell asleep during the movie [before 9pm]!  We can only handle one late night out a weekend!  It was fun to dress up and because we live in Southern California, I can get away with wearing a sleeveless shirt for a Christmas Party.  2 more Christmas Parties this weekend, cannot wait and we will have to plan on taking a nap on Saturday day!

We got a much shorter tree this year which we love the look of in our windowed corner.  If you look to the right of me you can see the little knitted booties my mom made for our daughter- a constant reminder of our little one coming in only 2 1/2 months!

And just because it is Abby's 1 week birthday here is a little picture of the sleepy girl.  Less than 2 weeks till I get to snuggle my sweet little niece!

3rd Trimester!

I have made it.  I am almost to my 29th week.  I am feeling nice and round.  Besides the first 14 weeks of throwing up, I have really enjoyed pregnancy.  I think it is funny that I have to have Ryan push me up sometimes when I have a hard time getting up from the couch.  I have enjoyed the non stop eating (although after the baby comes and I have to start working out again I might not enjoy it as much).  This week complete strangers have finally started to ask me, "when is the baby due?".  I finally look pregnant enough to people that they know!

I love feeling her moving around.  I heard sometime around now, sometimes babies get hiccups so I am hoping that happens soon!  I have been getting those pesky braxton hicks contractions especially when I am moving around a lot- probably why my doctor told me to take it easy. 

Clothing has been interesting.  I have had a slight addiction to shopping whether it is for my pregnant self or my daughter, I have gone a little crazy, most of you know, I normally hate shopping!  Thankfully Ryan just laughs and says, "I won't complain, you've been looking good".  What a supporter.  I think he is just thankful I am still putting myself together each day, rocking heels and haven't resorted to sweatpants and his shirts.  There is still 11 more weeks though so you never know.

Off to work.  I have been belting everything lately.  Including my scarf's to me.

Welcome Abigal Joy Schoenhals!

I had a good time in AZ with the family celebrating Nanna's life, meeting my cousin's fiance's, wives and other people I hadn't met yet.  It's too bad that it seems like funerals are one of the only events that can bring families, living so far apart, together.  Nanna was loved and was rejoiced for her love for Jesus and her commitment to her husband.  What a way to be remembered. 

After Nanna's service we got a text from Emily, she was in labor and Mark was on his way home to drive her to the hospital!  At 7:22pm Abigal Joy was born.  It happened so fast that Emily couldn't even get an epidural and she did so well.  I am so proud of my sister and Mark was such a good supporter and encourager.  Meet my first little niece Abby!  Can't wait to meet her in 2 weeks!

Ruth Marie Goff

I am so thankful Ryan had I had the opportunity to go visit Arizona over Thanksgiving Break.  We were able to sit and talk with my grandparents for a few hours.  It is so hard seeing your grandparents [and parents!] getting older but we all are and that is just reality.  My nanna had parkinson's and her dementia had started to take a lot of her memory away.  She was frustrated with it when we saw her last week.  Saturday morning we found out nanna had passed away.  Very peacefully in her sleep.  I am thankful that she loved Jesus.  I am thankful we have the comfort that she is in heaven.  I am thankful that she was ready. 

I will head out to AZ tomorrow to meet my parents and the rest of the extended family.  I am glad that it is only a 6 hour drive away as I am looking forward to celebrating nanna's life!

Thanksgiving.

There are so many things to be thankful for yet again this year. Ryan and I decided to head out to the Grand Canyon for Thanksgiving to have a mini "babymoon".  It's hard to believe in just 3 months we will welcome our little girl.  We talked a lot about everything we need to do before she arrives... We have our next few weekends planned out to get the nursery painted, furniture shopping, register, take baby classes and we still need to decide on her name.  That has been a lot more difficult than we thought it would be!

Ryan had never been to the GC before and it was such great weather for it!  Nice and cool but sunny.  We got to spend a few hours with Nanna and Grandpa Goff, I am thankful we got to see them, it is always hard seeing family members getting older.  Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me, I would have loved to get a picture with them. 

I had my 27 week doctor appointment today.  I had to do the glucose test- not as bad as everyone made it seem, the sugary flat orange soda tasting drink was not great but I survived.  I should find out the results later this week.  The doctor said that our baby's head looked normal (27 weeks) but that he body was very petite (around 25 weeks).  This is only a matter of a few oz but the news still made me nervous.  She didn't seem worried and said we would check on it the next time I am in at the end of December.  So pray for our little girl that her body will catch up with her big head :] 

Emily is due in just 2 weeks!  Can't wait to see my little niece over Christmas!

go vikings!

25 weeks and the bump [and the rest of me] is growing.  So tonight I am cheering on the Vikes and Ryan is cheering on the Packers.  So far it's not looking so good for MN, but we will see.

Heading out to PA tomorrow for some meetings, not looking forward to traveling all day just to turn around on Thursday and head back, such is life.  It will give Ryan some time to catch up on work. 

Baby Pee is moving like crazy, I love just having her moving around during meetings, it is our little secret.  I was reading that this week she will start getting hiccups and maybe I would be able to feel them soon!  I haven't had particular cravings expect for food in general.  If it is around it will soon be in my belly.  3 1/2 months to go!