Dinner in the Tub....

Leave it to only Indiana weather!!!

We had just sat down for dinner and we heard the Tornado Sirens go off! We were a bit confused??? End of January and there is a tornado warning? Sure enough we turned the TV on and they are telling us to take shelter immediately! Before kids...Tim and I would of listened to the warning and kept a watchful eye out but continue to eat dinner. Now we all piled in the only room in our house that is safe the hall bathroom...which is TINY and continued to our eat dinner. We put Bella in the tub with no water and her clothes on and fed her off of our plates. When dinner was done we stripped her down and gave her a bath! Thank goodness the warning was over by the time we were done with her bath and we didn't have to stay in there for long!
Another thing to add to the list when we are house shopping....basement so we have room to spread out during bad weather!!!!

Baby W's Baby Shower

Angie showing off a great gift...

a baby wreathe loaded with all the baby essentials you need!

Today we hosted a baby shower for Angie, Tim's cousin, and Baby W who will be arriving around March 4th.

We had lots of yummy sweet treats that we all more than enjoyed! It was fun watching Angie dig into all her new baby loot and I am amazed at all the new a different things that they have come out with in the 16months since Bella was born. It was nice to be able to visit with lots of family we don't' get to see very often!

We are so excited to meet the newest addition to the family and hope that the next 5 weeks go healthy and fast for the mommy to be!

Baby Lily Taylor...

Today I finally got to meet

Miss Lily Taylor!

She is the daughter of Tim's cousin Megan and Nick!

What a beautiful and good baby! I snatched her up as soon as they walked in so I could get my baby fix and got to start feeding her before she got stolen by her Great Grandma Huck. She only cried during the 3 hours they were there when she was hungry and at a month old already knows how to suck done 5oz quickly!!! She is very alert always looking at who was talking to her and was up for nearly 2 hours.

Megan is not only adjusting to motherhood beautifully, two weeks ago she already started back to school and work!!

We are so glad to got to meet Lily, she is a true little blessing!

Children's Museum....

Abby and Ella
Bella and mommy
Silly music show....
Bella on the giraffe on the carousal

Becky and Hayden

This is too much fun mom!!!
Attempt at a group shot of Bella, Hayden, Ella (hiding behind Hayden) and Fallyn
Glass works sculpture!
Fun at at the sand table!
Today Izabella made her first trip to the Children's Museum with her friends Hayden, Ella and Fallyn. It took her a little while to warm up because I think she was so over stimulated with toys and the other kids running around! We started our exploring at playscape where it was free for all for the toddlers. I think her favorite part was when the workers put on a silly music show with instruments....she was mesmerized the whole time! Then on to the carousel...she had mixed emotions about this...wasn't so sure at first, loved when it started moving and the music started playing but then nervous again when mommy moved to try to snap a picture. We had a quick lunch stop where all the kids slurped down their drinks and lunch from all the busy exploring they had been doing. Then we watched the water clock turn to 1pm which was really cool to watch all the water spill out! All Aboard the trains and to the glass works before we headed out! We missed the Curious George exhibit we will have to catch that next time!
It was a very fun day for both Bella and I!

Bella was asleep before we were out of the parking garage!

HOLY MOMS....

This morning I work up before sunrise at 5am to try and register Bella for a Mom's Morning Out Program at Northview Christian church! Tim asked me a couple times...what are you doing??? It was like waking up for Black Friday shopping after Thanksgiving! I pulled in the parking lot at 5:55am after trying to stop at 2 different Starbucks and a McDonald's that weren't open...you know it is early when Starbucks on Keystone wasn't open yet!!!! The doors opened at 6:00am and I was 17th on the sign-in list! One die hard dad showed up in his snow pant overalls at 1:30am...this is preschool people!!!! Luckily I had friends Amber and Abby there to chat with for 2 hours while we waited in line behind the red tape!

CRAZY!!!

Anyways, Bella will probably be at the top of a wait list and hopefully her friends Fallyn and Ella will all be in the little butterfly class come this September! We will know our where we stand on the list in a week or two!

We also are going to sign her up at our church next week and see which program we get into and which day works best with our schedules!

Gotta get on that list early!!!

Who would of thought this early in their little lives their moms would be fighting for preschool positions!

Now back to work this morning...after working last night too...I am tired! Hope was worth it!!!

Donut Snatcher...

As I was making the previous post and daddy was watching the end of the football game.... some how Bella got the box of donuts down off the counter and helped herself!

I couldn't help but crack up!

Meeting Paige

Sweet Little Paige....

Part of the reason for the trip was to meet the newest addition to the group, Paige! She is so sweet and a very happy baby! As you can tell beautiful too! Julia is a very proud and helpful big sister!

I see polka dots....

Mia and Julia the big girls...
Paige, Julia, Bella, Emily, Claire, Mia and Asher
Katherine got matching pj's for all the kids for their pj party!

They all looked soo cute running around in their polka dot pj's! Of course the man of the house had to have some camie pj's which all the girls loved!

Mommy and their Babes....

Asher, Natalie & Mia

Paige, Katherine, & Julia
Emily, Amy & Claire
Me & Bella
Katherine, Paige, me, Amy & Natalie

Amy and I made road trip Valpo this weekend to visit our good friends, Natalie and Katherine. It was so much fun and quite busy with 7 kids 3 and under. It was a wonderful weekend to catch up with our girlfriends and have the kids just play, play and play.

Thanks to Pete and Natalie for being such wonderful host and for such a nice weekend!

Play Group....

Big girls checking everything out!
Hayden was showing off is fancy foot work...probably be walking by next time!
Big sister to be...Ella
Gavin was having fun with the maracas
Thursday Sarah and Libby had play group and it was so much fun to play and see every one! We hadn't been to playgroup in 5 weeks which is way too long!

Cute hat and Curls

We were headed out and I had to snap a picture of Bella in this hat!
Look at those curls Bella gets after her bath! Mommy thinks they are much to cute to cut yet!

12 week update (well 11weeks 3 days to be exact)...

Baby m&m

11 weeks 3 days

Baby m&m 7 weeks 3 days

This morning Bella and I headed to my 12 week check up! I decided to keep Bella with me for the morning since I hadn't seen her all weekend. I thought we'd go to the Dr and then have a mommy/daughter breakfast before I headed to work and Bella to the babysitter! The appt was suppose to be just a quick check with the NP and listen to the heartbeat! The problem came when she couldn't find the heartbeat which I remember with Bella it took a little while to find too! So...they schedule an ultrasound to make sure everything was ok...and made me wait an hour and 45 minutes!!!! Talk about a long hour and 45minutes...although I knew this was "normal" Tim got a panicked and tearful phone call and rushed over to meet Bella and I at the office! It is amazing everything your mind thinks of when you are waiting....

Finally, they called my name....we got to see our little m&m the moment she put the sonogram on my belly! Baby m&m was waving its arms and flipping all around for us! RELIEF and confirmation that everything was ok and looked perfect! M&M heart rate was 176 for those of you who are wondering...Bella's was 187 at 12 weeks. It was amazing the growth and development 4 weeks makes! I said this baby must already be stubborn since we have had 2 ultrasounds at this point in my pregnancy and with Bella we hadn't had any!

Another day full of true blessings!!!

Lucky girl...

This is my friend, Emily. Her mom Miss Jenny takes care of me on Monday's and Wednesday's when my mommy and daddy have to go to something called work!

I have LOTS of fun with Emily she is 3 months older than I am we get along great. Her mommy pays attention to just us all day long!

When mommy took me there on Monday after the holiday break I was so excited to see Emily and her new toys I didn't even cry when mommy left! Mommy said this was a good thing because she knew this meant I was happy there but a little said because I didn't care if she went or not!

I also still get lots of slumber parties on the weekends when they have to work sometimes with my Grammy J and Papaw, Grandma M and Papaw M, Aunt Suzi, Uncle Ernie and Wyatt. Even the Kirk's let me stay a couple of weeks ago and Abby lets me sleep in her room! Aunt Rachel and I also hang on Monday's once or twice a month just so we can have special time together...nothing like getting spoiled by my aunt!

Mommy and Daddy keep telling me I am very lucky girl to have so many people who love and care about me! I tell them it is because I am such a cute girl no one can get enough of me!!! hehe

Bella's version of the story...

Another video that i thought was too cute not to share...I was in the kitchen doing dishes and Bella got a book, climbed up onto the couch, made herself comfy and started reading! Becoming more independent and has much more of an imagination each day!

Bella the Tornado...

I thought months ago Bella was into everything but this last week the house has become a Bella tornado if we aren't right behind her! She is having so much fun exploring but wow....wears her mommy and daddy out in the process! This is video of her new trick...climbing onto the couch. She has gotten very good about getting up and then down feet first off the couch...and using "safety" (feet first) she can get off our bed too which is much higher than the couch!

Thank you....

We were overwhelmed with all the well wish sent about Baby M&M. We are truly blessed to be surrounded by so much wonderful family and friends!

We can't thank you enough for all your love, support and prayers! Check back for updates on the baby's and my progress! Monday is my 12 week appointment where I will be anxious to hear Baby M&M's heartbeat again!

And for all of you who have asked about name Baby M&M...doesn't stand for anything spefic and definitely not 2 babies but we called Izabella Baby M so we thought M&M for this one. Although Angie thought it might stand for Mini Maines and I love that idea too!

Ertel Shower

The excited Parents-To-Be

Lance and Kristie

Big Brother, Jackson, with 3 weeks old little brother, Tyler
Bella and Jackson had fun playing all night long!
Including helping open all the baby's gifts!
Joshua was chillin' as all the gifts were being open!

Tuesday night we headed to Canal Point Grill for a baby shower for Lance and Kristie and their new baby boy who will arrive around the end of February! Kristie and Tim worked together at the bar for a long time and we were thrilled to be included in their celebrating.

Jackson lead Bella and Joshua in a night of fun running all around the restaurant! Luckily we were the only ones there so it was ok! It was fun to watch Bella fit right in with the big kids!

We look forward to meeting Baby Ertel!

Busy Girls...

Angie had a quick errand to run in Broadripple Tuesday so we were lucky enough to get to play with Miss Addie for a little bit!
Addie and Bella busy playing on the farm!
This didn't last long so this was the best pictures I could get of the two of them together! They are so much fun...I think each time they are together they interact and play with each other more! They are still trying to get the sharing and taking turns concepts down too!
Thanks for coming over Addie...wish you could of stayed for longer!

Introducing.....

Baby m&m.....

The newest addition to our family who will be arriving around August 1st!!! ( the small dot in the corner of the round black circle...sorry it wasn't a better picture but at the time I was only 7 1/2 weeks)

We have been blessed to be pregnant once again with our second child! We couldn't be more excited!

Please keep us in your prayers for a continued healthy pregnancy and healthy little baby m&m!
Bella shared with our families over the holidays by wearing this tee-shirt that we had made for her saying on the front....

Big Sisters ROCK

and the back

Debuting Summer 08

PS Yes, to save all of you who will ask and think we are crazy we are choosing not to find out the gender of baby m&m until he or she makes its grand entrance into this world!

PPS Thought our first post of the year we would start with a bang since I have been a little behind in posting!