ugh!

I'm just frustrated! I can't get my pictures downloaded on my computer! I know there are 60 pictures on my card, but the computer tells me there are 1300 and they are all from when Gavin was 1 - so I don't know how to fix that or get my pictures downloaded so I can finally update my blog! I have some new belly pics - we made it to 34 weeks today! I started bedrest this week for the next 3 weeks. The plan is to make it to 37 weeks, then resume activity as normal and see what happens. I only have 2 more of my progesterone shots left - I will be happy when that is over. 20 shots with a big needle in your bum is not what I call a good time. So for the next few weeks, me and my baby bump are just going to be hanging out doing nothing. We also celebrated our Christmas last weekend. We didn't have anything going on, and thought it would be nice to have a little celebration for the 3 of us. I'm looking forward to receiving my wine of the month from the membership Bryan gave me. Bryan has a new wedding band, and Gavin has been having a blast with his Wii! We had such a nice evening together! We are anxiously awaiting baby news from the Strey household! This morning as soon as Gavin got up, he told me I had to check to see if Auntie Laurie had her baby yet! We are all so excited! I'll have to keep working on my computer and hopefully I can figure it out soon. Hope everyone has a very merry Christmas and a great new year! We are definitly looking forward to the new and exciting things in store for us in 2012!

Halloween

Gavin had a blast this year dressing up like a Vikings player for Halloween! I'm not sure if he enjoyed the trick or treating, or handing out the candy more! He loved seeing all the other kids come to our door in their costumes! Luckily, we didn't run out of candy this year! Our neighborhood is a busy place at Halloween, which made it even more fun!

growing belly!

I'm actually going on 27 weeks, but we took these at 25 weeks... as you can tell, someone is very excited to be a big brother!

Pumpkin patch!

We had a lot of fun going to the pumpkin patch/apple orchard with Krista and Landen! We just can't get enough of that little munchkin!

If you scroll down past the family pictures post, you will find our vacation pictures - I published it late, so it goes to the bottom - we had so much fun, looking at the pictures makes me want to go back!!!

family pics

I've been having lots of issues uploading my posts to blogger, so hopefully this works! We had our family pictures done last week, and I'm so happy how they turned out! Gavin was such a ham, striking his own poses and making picture suggestions!

Now for some updated baby news... the little stinker has been causing me some discomfort! Last night I had to leave work early because I was cramping and contracting - seriously, though, I have some amazing coworkers - we really do take care of one another! I still didn't feel quite right this morning, so I called the clinic to be seen. When the Dr checked me, he said that my cervix is closed, but that it is thinning and shortened. He put me on modified bedrest just for the weekend, and then we will re-evaluate on monday. I'm hoping that a weekend of rest will help to settle things down and then I can go back to normal activity. I feel a lot better even today after just resting all day. I worry what long term bedrest would mean for Gavin - he kind of likes his mama to hang out with him! Tonight, after Bryan picked him up from school, he just crawled into bed with me to snuggle!I'm thankful for all of the support that we have - but really, don't worry yet - we are doing fine!

Disney World 2011

3 very tired boys after a full day at the parks!

Fianlly, a vacation post! I have been having issues with blogger, so this post has been waiting to be published for awhile now, guess it just took a little bedrest boredom to get me going! We had a fabulous time in Disney World this year! It was so nice to spend a whole week with our entire family! It's so fun now that Gavin knows where we are going and what we are going to do! The very first night we got there, we hopped on a bus and took the boys to EPCOT... at 10:00 O'clock at night! Then the next morning, they got up bright and early without a complaint to go have breaskfast with Lilo, Stitch and Mickey! Gavin was so excited to meet the characters he didn't have time to eat! The rest of the day we spent at the Magic Kingdom while we waited for the Peterson's to meet us. Sunday was a day of golf for the dad's, so the girls hung out with the little boys at the Animal Kingdom. We had so much fun showing them all the animals, going on rides and exploring Rafiki's planet watch. The rest of the week we explored all the parks and spent most of our afternoons in the pool! Thursday night we took the boys to the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue at Camp Wilderness! It may have been the highlight of Gavin's trip! He stole an entire bowl of mashed potatoes just for himself, danced along with the music and laughed hard at all of the jokes! Friday we started our day at Chef Mickey's and got to meet our favorite characters! Our last night we all ate dinner at Cape May Cafe - one of our favorite traditions! Gavin had more fun helping me crack my crab than actually eat it! We had such a fun week! Gavin keeps talking about everything we saw and did, and how he can't wait to take his brother some day! I can't wait for that either!! So much to look forward to!

big stuff...

21 weeks

We had an absolutly amazing time in Florida again this year! But, first things first... I have yet to blog about the fact that Bryan and I are finally expecting our second baby February 1st! We had our ultrasound the Monday we returned from our trip. We found out we are having another little boy! After his initial dissappointment that he was not, in fact, getting a sister, Gavin has become really excited to have a brother! He talks about all the things he's going to teach him, and what toys he will and will not share with him! He's going to be a great big brother, and above all else, that is what I am most excited about. I can't wait for him to have someone to share his life with. He has been blessed with some amazing cousins, but having someone here all the time is going to be such a treat for him. I don't know what I would do without my sisters, so to say I'm thrilled for Gavin to have a brother is something I can't really explain. I'm excited for us too, to get to experience having another baby, watching Bryan parent is so amazing to me and only makes me love him more. Everything looked perfect on the ultrasound, and after a very rough first trimester, I hope things keep going so well. I am getting progesterone shots every week to try and prevent the preterm labor that I experienced with Gavin. My bum is getting a little sore, but I'll gladly take the shots over magnesium, terbutaline and bedrest! Gavin thinks it's a hoot that I have to get a shot every Monday... at least someone is getting a chuckle out of it! So for now, I feel fantastic and I really hope it stays that way!

the last couple of months....

Contrary to what it seems, I have not forgotten I have a blog! Summer kind of gets away from me, and I'm just busy enjoying myself, I tend to forget about little things like the computer! This summer has been flying by! It doesn't help that I spent the last two weeks in bed with pneumonia! Gavin got it the middle of June, and sure enough, right after the 4th of July, I started feeling crummy too. It knocked me out a little worse than Gavin. I ended up with an IV and got boluses and antibiotics as an outpatient. I'm just glad I didn't have to stay at the hospital. Bryan was a great little nurse and pretty much waited on me for 2 weeks. But, prior to being sick, Gavin ran in his first kids race in Renville this year on my birthday! He was so excited the entire week leading up to the race - I think they ran about 4 blocks! For him, the snowcone at the end of the race was the best! He also got to ride with his uncle Nick in the fire truck for the parade, he thought that was pretty cool. Gavin has also been busy playing t-ball on Thursday evenings this summer. He loves it! We watched a game last night and it was so cute watching them all run after the ball and dive on top of each other to get to it! He has one more game next thursday and then is done for the year. He has also really taken to golf this year, and has been wanting to use his golf clubs a lot. Many nights, you will find him and Bryan outside swinging away - like father, like son. Bryan took him last weekend for his very first round of golf on the course. Gavin could hardly stand the wait, everyday he woke up and asked if it was Friday yet. Then on Friday morning, he came running in my room yelling "today's the day!!!" Bryan said he did really well listening and taking his turn, he can't wait to go again! Finally, over the 4th of July, my favorite time of year, Adam was kind enough to let us use his pontoon for the weekend! We had a blast! The weather was perfect, and the company was fantastic! The kids had so much fun swimming and just hanging out on the lake the entire day. I have to give myself a little credit, as I was the one who drove the pontoon, and also pulled it home that night.... yes, a talent I didn't know that I possessed. Now as July comes to an end, we have lots of fun things to look forward to... a week at the lake, 2 very special little boys' birthday parties, and planning for our September trip to Florida!

photographer!

The second weekend in May, I was asked to take some candid photos at a friends wedding! And man, did I have a good time! It was so much fun running around trying capture the moment for Tony and Juliana to keep forever! Plus, there was a professional photographer there, so I just needed to focus on the fun stuff, with no pressure at all. This was definitly something I would do again! Here are a few of my favs!