So for the very first time we had Christmas at our house and I hosted. Dad, Mom and Grandpa-Great joined us for a few days at Christmas. It was a very memorable time and nice to be at our own home and begin some new traditions! Our family arrived Christmas Eve. On Christmas Eve we went to a church nearby for Christmas Eve service. Nataleigh sat on my lap for the most of the time-she did so well! Christmas morning we had oranges, grapefruit and a star cookie for breakfast. For Brunch we had Egg Casserole and Orange French Toast and for Dinner we had boneless Beef Tenderloin, sphagetti, fotatoes, sweet potato casserole, green beans, rolls (I'm probably forgetting something) and a Lamb Birthday cake for Jesus' Birthday.
We enjoyed being together! Nataleigh was so excited about her new toys and having family around that she wouldn't nap. :)
The next day was Sunday and this was our last Sunday at Velocity.
On Monday we headed to Indiana where we stayed for a week and then headed to Chicago for the following week. There was much time spent with family and friends. It was great! Nataleigh did wonderful! We did, however get sick when we got to Chicago but tried to enjoy it in spite of our sickness :(
So...now to the title of the post-19 months...
Yes, Nataleigh is 19 months old, can you believe it? We can't! She def. has grown into a little girl and we are enjoying her so much lately! It's like she's this sponge that soaks up EVERYTHING! She's been talking A LOT more lately and continues to shock us each day with something new! We enjoyed watching her learn how to put Legos together. When we were in Chicago we got her her first set of Lego Duplos. She calls them her "blocks" and has really been enjoying this bonding time with daddy!
She continues to be excited about my ever growing tummy and whenever she sees pictures of herself sleeping as a newborn or sees other people sleeping says "shh __________" Too cute! She's also been showing more and more interest in her baby dolls and is going to be such a great big sis! She's also become my little helper lately! She will throw trash away and pick up things that need put away. We look forward to bringing home a new baby and watching Nataleigh interact.
We are slowly getting away from the "Baby Signing Time" videos and renting the "Signing Time" videos (as they are more grown up/age appropriate for her). She loves to sign and we are so thankful we started this with her at such a young age! We believe it's helped with her communication.
For the first time this weekend she stayed away from us for 1 night and for the first time stayed at Grandpa and Nonna's house. We stayed at home after a date night so it was weird coming home to no Nataleigh. (I closed her door to pretend she was sleeping) I did enjoy the next morning as I could just lay in bed, read and doze back off to sleep as I wished...then I made breakfast when I felt like it ;) We then went and got her while she was napping...it was so hard not to go in there and wake her up but when she did wake up and we saw her for the first time it was a sweet moment.
I was finally able to do real piggy tails for the first time!! :)
And for the 26 weeks...
So, here I am starting 26 weeks with this pregnancy! I can't believe it! This baby will be here before we know it! We are getting prepared but there is still a lot more mentally, physically and emotionally to prepare for. Our friends, Heather and Curtis just had their baby yesterday and we got to visit them today. We are actually going with the same midwifery practice and same hospital as them so it was nice to see where we will be delivering and got to hear great things about the care they received! We are very excited and relieved to be doing something different this time!
I'm feeling great! As far as eating goes...I feel like a pig...I eat ALL OF THE TIME!! :) As far as sleeping goes...I'm sleeping great! I'm feeling a little uncomfortable when I bend over and have been either having round ligament pain or braxton hicks contractions.
So, thankful, though for a healthy pregnancy! Everything is great! My midwife measured my belly for the first time last appointment and said the baby was right on track with his/her growth.
I will see the midwife at the beginning of Feb and then after that every 2 weeks. It's hard to believe we are already down to every 2 weeks!
Enough rambling...here's a picture....and, no we are not telling the gender so guess all you want but we aren't telling! ;)
newest picture at 25 weeks 5 days:
