Dave is still the only one

A week or so ago, Dave and I went to the doctor for the official ultrasound. We receive one every time we go to the doctor, but this is the one where they measure all their little legs and arms, but most importantly, we found out what our little nuggets are, boys or girls.

There will be a ton of estrogen in the house, because we have 2 more little ladies coming to join us in what looks like most likely December. The first thing Dave said when he found out is "Well, it looks like I will be coaching a softball team instead of a baseball team." What a hoot!

I think I took it a bit harder, honestly, than Dave did. Prior to the ultrasound, he did not want to tell anyone what his guess was for what the sexes were. And I was really hoping for one boy. So when we found out, he said that was his guess, so he seemed alright. I was the one that need a little retail therapy to get me through the afternoon.

The more I think about it though, the more excited I become. We have bought a few matching outfits, for the fun occasions, not for everyday use. And I just keep thinking about how great it will be to see Josie with her little sisters, all playing house or dress up together. I am actually not worried about the little ages at all. What is scaring me the most is that we are going to have a 16 year old and two 15 year olds. Oh-my...that is a lot of estrogen (and not to mention a lot of adolescence).

3 car payments, 3 colleges, 3 weddings....wow. We will definitely have our work cut out for us. It will be hard, we understand that, but we are really preparing ourselves and up for the challenge. We are excited to see our new ones and to be able to hold them.

I am currently 20 weeks along, past my half way point since I will not be going full term or 40 weeks. Both little ladies are weighing in a little over 9 ounces (which is larger than average!). We just keep praying that I make it to Christmas break at school...this is the goal.

We will be posting ultrasound pics, as soon as Dave helps me download them in. Thanks for checking in on us. Please keep praying for the little ones.

Josie turned one!

We had Josie's first birthday the other weekend. We had such a great time. Our little social bug was quite the character. The theme was Alice in Wonderland, so there was a tea pot cake for her to dig into. She was nervous at first, but with a little help from mom, she went to it. After cake and presents, we set up a pool in the back for whoever wanted to jump in. I can't believe that our little nugget is all grown up. She is a walker, and a talker, and a lover. She is surely going to be a great big sister. Here is the picture run down of the day!

the summer with Josie

I love being home!!! (even though I am getting a bit of an itch to get back to school...a feeling that can be easily ignored =)

This summer, Josie and I have made it a point to get out a ton and visit the St. Louis area to experience all it has to offer. We have been to the Arch, Botanical Gardens, Butterfly House, St. Louis Carousel, Magic House, Ted Drewes, The Hill, and W&P Train Station. We are currently volunteering at our church for Vacation Bible School. We also have been hitting the pool often! She has been trooper, playing through nap times, and behaving wonderfully. We have learned how independent and exciting our little one can be. She is one heck of a social being. She watches people everywhere and studies. What a fun lady she has become.

As well as becoming a tourist, she has also become a full fledged eater! No more formula for Josie!!! Yeah, for mommy and daddy. She will eat anything that we give her and for now, she loves her fruits and veggies.

Here are some photos of the fun! And this was only June and July...we still have August before I go back to school. We are not done yet...


Josie's first ride on a carousel. It was hard to hold her and take a good picture. She liked the stationary house much better than the moving one, but still had a good time.

Josie and Brendan checking out and trying to follow the fast moving butterflies. They were whizzing by and there were tons of them. Even though in the climatron was terribly hot, it was worth the site.

Josie on one of the butterfly chairs. I want one at home...they are so cute!

We went to the Butterfly House with our friends, Mandy and Brendan. After surviving the intense humidity of the butterfly's climatron, we cooled off in the learning center, with costumes, books, games, and toys. Here is Mandy helping Josie stack the blocks.
Josie the little butterfly!

At the train, we were able to ride a mini train into the wilderness. Overall, it was cute for Josie. She loved having the wind hit her in the face and watching all the trees go by.

The whole train.

Dave's aunt came into town for her birthday, and the gift she wanted was to spend time with all her nieces and nephews. So we went many places, here is the Magic House. Most of it was dedicated to the older children, but we found a spot for 0-24 month kiddos, and Josie had a blast. She wanted to spend more time here. It had ramps, mirrors, and so much more.

And a ball pit. We have an unfilled sandbox at home, forget the sand, I am buying plastic balls.

She picked apples at a part of the Magic House.

Also with Aunt Barb, we took Josie on her first trip to the top of the Arch. I was worried about her ears, but no complaints! She loved climbing on the ramps and looking out to the city. We had a gorgeous day! Notice Busch Stadium in the background...of course!

On the ride up with Dave's mom, Cathy. If you have ever ride in this egg, you know what a tight squeeze we had to maneuver to get this shot.

At the Botanical Gardens. We took a break from the stroller and let Josie show off her new skills of walking. She is getting better and better everyday. What a big girl! Her face here cracks me up!

Aunt Barb, Nana, Josie, and myself at the Botanical Gardens.

update on the twins

We went for an ultrasound on Monday and was able to see the little nuggets hanging out and moving around. The tech confirmed that they are fraternal. She described it as they live in two separate bedrooms in the same apartment. They have their own cords, sacs, fluids, everything, but just in close quarters. She also confirmed my due date, which is now official, January 15th, 2011. However, she also agreed with my doctor that they will be here before the end of the year. They both are a little over 5 centimeters long. Without Dave home, I am having trouble scanning the pictures in, so here is my best try at taking the pictures of the pictures. Hope you can see them.

Fetus 1, the one that sits lower.

This is Fetus 2, the higher one.

Here are both of them just "hanging out" as it says.

This is the best pic I think. 2 peas in a pod. You can clearly see their separation.

I am officially 3 months along, and feeling so-so. I just wish that I would stop throwing up. It is not daily anymore, but still more than I prefer. I don't sleep well at night either. So it is great that I am at home all the time, so when Josie sleeps, so do I.

The big easy

The first day we got into town, we stopped that the Aquarium. Here we had a bit of fun.

At Pat O'Brien's enjoying dueling pianos.

The second day of sightseeing, we headed out of the city for a swamp tour in a bayou. There were many gators, birds, and sights to see.

One day, we had a couple hours to kill before dinner, and the tourist lady suggested the trolley. For $2.50 round trip, we traveled through the city, garden district, and Mardi Gras parade route. It lasted an hour and a half and was worth it. What a beautiful place.

We took a day trip to Biloxi, Mississippi. We saw the remnants from Katrina, took a little tour, and of course found a mini golf course. It is the only one that rebuilt after Katrina.

This is the ferry that we took everyday. It is expensive to park in the French Quarter, so we took the free ferry and paid the $1 toll for the bridge on the ride home.

At the New Orleans Zepher's minor league baseball team. It is triple-A for the Florida Marlins. We were winning until one player from the other team hit two grand slams. We lost 10-5.

It was Dave's birthday while in New Orleans so we made the best of it. We started the day with a walking tour of the French Quarter. It was hot! But we loved it...and learned a ton about the Quarter. What a neat place. If you ever go, let us know, we will tell you the best things to see.

Our tour guide in front of St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square. It was amazing inside.

For lunch, we walked to Emeril Lagasse's flagship restaurant. The food was great, a bit of fine dining for us. What a treat!

Then, we walked around the block to the National World War 2 Museum. They played a 4-D movie about D-Day. Worth all the money to see.

Here was our dinner...holding hands, I mean claws. I am seafood-ed out. It was weird to see our waiter walk by with the lobsters directly out of the tank to the kitchen...right past us. We saw our food both alive and dead. It was delicious, but too much for me. I don't think I will do that again.

We decided to take a stroll through Harrah's. It was on the way to the ferry and it was his birthday so why not test our luck. Come to find out, there is a birthday slot machine. He won a free buffet! It was lunch the next day.

Total we walked out of there with an extra $11.

Our meals were paid for!

One the last night, we took a steamboat dinner cruise on the Creole Queen. They had a jazz band playing. It was sweet.

A couple celebrities that we met in New Orleans. Here I am proudly standing with Anderson Cooper from CNN.

We met and talked with two major league baseball players at the Zephers game. And this is Chazz Palminteri who always plays a gangster role in movies. Dave noticed him and talked to him a bit. He is best known for his role of Sonny in a Bronx Tale.