Busy Weekend

Mike and I have had a busy weekend! Saturday, Mike cleaned out the garage and put up all the summer stuff for the winter (bags, camping stuff, my bike, etc), and I cleaned up the plant beds. I began taking down the fence for our garden, but my stomach started to hurt from all the bending over, so Mike finished the job for me :). Mike also hung the outside Christmas lights.

Sunday, we both worked on putting plastic on the windows.... I know it looks so classy :/, but it really does keep our horribly insulated, drafty house a lot warmer in the winter, so its totally worth it. We also put up the Christmas tree, and I made chocolate chip cookies and homemade cheesy potato soup.


Potato Soup with bacon, cheese, and sour cream--amaaaazing!

Our tree--the cats think that the ornaments are fun dangling cat toys waiting to be knocked off the tree. (And I feel dumb admitting this, but I just learned how to spell ornament--I honestly thought the word was ordament, with a D sound, I have been saying it wrong all my life :/,--Mike teaches me so much ;)


This is the new ornament that my parents brought to me on Friday when they came to visit my classroom. Its me and Mike, having a baby :)

Our lovely plastic--it really does work!


Our outside Christmas lights


And finally, relaxing on the couch with kitties in our laps :)

12 Weeks

I am nearing the end of the 1st trimester, and looking forward to the 2nd trimester with its promises of less nausea and more energy :) I can't wait!

I am beginning to develop a small bump--here is the picture, and I promise not to show my bare tummy every time--I just did it this time because you really can't see it when I'm wearing clothes, and I am just so happy its there, I can't help but show it!


I am not quite into maternity clothes yet, but Maurene and I went shopping on Sunday and to get me started so I am ready for when my clothes stop fitting. Here are the things we got--4 pairs of "school" pants, 1 pair of jeans, and 3 shirts.


And this is the cat that made it difficult to take pictures of my clothes because he so desperately wanted to be in a picture. So here's a picture of Charles.

Our Baby

We're having a baby!

Mike and I went to the doctor on Monday for our first prenatal visit, and we got to hear our baby's heartbeat and movements on a Doppler monitor. The doctor told us that everything is looking and sound great. I am at 10 1/2 weeks right now, and due to have the baby around May 30th. The timing should work out nicely with the end of the school year, giving me an extra long maternity leave for summer :) . . . (that is, of course, if everything goes as scheduled--which I know doesn't always happen with babies or school years).

I am beginning to feel a lot better as I am getting closer the the end of the 1st trimester. I have been nauseous since week 3, and the last 2 days I have felt the best I have felt since September--Mike and I even went on a date last night because I finally felt like leaving the house for a meal. I have been eating a lot of fruit because that is one of the few things that sounds good too me... food in general just hasn't sounded good for the last 8 weeks--which is the complete opposite of how I usually am--I LOVE food, so it's strange to have the thought of food make my stomach turn for 2 months.

Other than the nausea, I have had the other typical pregnancy conditions--exhaustion and moodiness (mostly caused by the exhaustion and feeling nauseous for 2 months straight--and maybe some hormones too ;) ). My husband is a wonderful, patient person who has put up with my tired, crabby self, and I am very thankful for him! He has had PB & J for countless dinners because I didn't feel like cooking, he has run to the grocery store to get Mac & Cheese for me after me crabbing at him because there wasn't any in the cupboard when I thought there was, and he kept the house clean and laundry done because I felt like just laying around or sleeping. He really has been great through the whole thing, and I appreciate him very much!

In addition to my baby, my sister will also be having a baby in May, so we will be adding two more grandkids to the Gries family, who already has Ashton. For the Schimmel's this will be the 3rd grandkid--Isabella and Kaylen are both still under a year. And for the Entner's this will be the 1st grandkid. Our families are very excited, and so are we!