Nice weekend so far!

Good thing Dad shaved today...

two robes, one Chateau Daniel

Nothing beats a fort on a Friday night. It even had a secret room!

Look how tall this rainbow is!

So bright!

Nico at almost two weeks!

Meg is doing great and healing well. Nico is sleeping like it's the only thing he knows to do, oh wait. Sofia is loving her new role as big sister. Grandma Debbie has been here this week as I finally decided to go back to work after 11 days off thanks to the holiday weekend and some vacation. Being a stay at home dad rocked! Two kids are a handful and we sure have been busy. We are trying to keep a lot of focus on Sofia and I think we have been doing pretty good.

Nice outfit big guy. Your Great Grandma Katie made this outfit for your dad when he was a week old!

What? You just woke up!!!

Is that Blue Steel or are you unraveling the mysteries of the universe?




Even Sofia is getting into camera mode! She is still working on centering but her subjects are great!

Layla is so trusting...

What a ham...

Man, Sofia looks like a 12yr old next to Nico!

Welcome to the World, Little Brother!

On July 4th @ 2:33 a.m., we welcomed Nico Sidney Daniel into the world. After 38 weeks and 5 days, weeks upon weeks of pre-labor contractions, Facebook updates from hospital lobbies, and anticipation by many, he decided to join the world with a celebration worthy of nationwide fireworks! He weighed in at 6lb 9oz and with a perfect bill of health. Meg is also in great health and is recovering fast. Nico is eating well and spends maybe an hour or so awake each day. Sofia wants to be apart of each activity and is so happy to be a big sister.
As I picked up my mom and Sofia to bring them to the hospital for a visit, we were joined on the elevator with the hospital chaplain. Sofia didn't waste a second and said "Hi, what's your name?" She replied and Sofia said, " My name is Sofia and this is my Daddy and GranMary. We are going to visit my mom and little brother Nico." It is amazing how much he looks like his big sister in her baby photos.
We are amazed with the amount of support and love we have received and continue to receive from out family and friends. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.
And to you my Son, I promise to raise you with love, respect, and to a high standard of truth and honesty. If a man is not worth his word, he is worth nothing at all. So keep your chin up though adverse times and know that your family and friends are behind you with all that we have. I challenge you to become a better man than me, as my father has challenged me, and his father has to him. Know that God will never give you more than you can handle and you will learn from the ups and downs in life. Thank you Son for carring on our famaily name and wear it with pride. We love you Nico and may God bless you!

Couch Chronicles

Shortly after my last post, I was placed on bedrest. The first week was beyond fantastic; reading books I hadn't had time to read, catching up on missed favorite tv shows, napping. It was like I was getting paid to be on vacation! Unfortunately, the novelty of my medically-induced vacation was short lived. I quickly realized that being forced to put my feet up on the couch all day was not at all what it was cracked up to be. With Chris working nights, we had little time with one another and as a family. My one outing of the day consisted of driving Sofia to daycare. And, to top it all off, all three of us came down with one of the nastiest cold/flus that had come through our house in years. Oh yeah, and did I mention I was continuing to have contractions every 15-20 minutes? We were in rough shape to say the least.

Thus, no motivation to communicate much via the blog. What was I going to talk about anyway?

So here we are, nearly 6 weeks later. Bedrest has worked and the baby is still cookin' away. I am officially 37 weeks and 5 days -- a "medical marvel" as my OB put it a few weeks ago. The nice thing is that I am not confined to the couch 100% anymore since I am officially full term. And, to say the least, I am in a much better mental state. Where am I now, you ask?

Get. This. Child. Out. Of. Me...and being as patient as possible! :)

Here's a glimpse into the last month. Sofia is a sweetheart. Our moms are incredible. My husband is the love of my life. I'm getting bigger by the minute.

Stirring like a champ!

Baking with Mom on our "Special Sofia & Mommy Day"

Rockies game for Father's Day

Cleaning with Grandma

Baking with GranMary

36 Weeks

Our 6th Anniversary!

Hugging her future brother. :) Sofia is going to be such an amazing big sister!

I promise to do a much better job of keeping things up to date from now on. :)
Hugs.

Preggo Meggo: 31 Weeks

The last month has been nothing short of eventful with this pregnancy! With trips to the hospital and multiple visits to the doctor due to contractions, we've been both busy and tired!

Regardless, here is my 31 week photo. I'm getting large and in charge!

Mother's Day Weekend

Mother's Day weekend was filled with great moments. We had a great lunch outside at a little corner spot not far from a local nursery where we picked up some leafy things with colored petals all of which have names I am not even going to try to spell.

Smoochy Smoochy!!!

While mom was getting a cut, color, and a back massage on Saturday, Sofia, Haley, April and I went to the Zoo. Anything more fun than a ride on a Cheetah?

Sofia and her self-proclaimed BFF.

I see a belly button...

Preggo Meggo: 26 & 27 Weeks

Want to see a magic trick? Check this out!

Here is my photo at 26 weeks & 2 days:

Pretty normal for 6.5 months right? Well, check this out. Look at me just 6 DAYS later!

Seriously, we might have a future linebacker on our side! Getting slightly nervous...

Next Tuesday will mark the beginning of my third trimester and the final phase of growing this little bean of ours. We are getting so excited to meet him!

Life With A 3 Year Old

My goodness. Our little girl is getting big!



Sofia loves to ride her bike and go to the park. These are just hilarious...


Sofia also has decided to practice her feeding skills for when her brother arrives...

Preggo Meggo: 24 Weeks

That's 6 months and 2/3 of the way there! We're starting to get really excited about this little guy entering the world. The next major task is figuring out what to name him....

My beautiful daughter. Busy painting after work today. I just love the the seriousness on her face as she was concentrating on her purple toucan. :)

And Time Goes By

Ah yes, my typical excuse of busy work, busy home, busy life and oh, how time flies.

Here's a little glimpse into the last month. :)

• I completed my first year of coursework for my PhD during the first week of March. 6 months of independent research on my own schedule, here I come!
• Another year of successful CSAP assemblies flew by. I'm chalking this year's events up as a success due to my convincing capabilities to get 10 grown men to wear dresses, wigs, and dance in front of 800+ children. Along with dodgeball, gladiators, and a great student versus staff basketball game, the week proved to be a great way to end each long day of testing.
  
• The annual St. Patty's Day Parade
• Third time's the charm...with potty training! Sofia has now been doing all of her "business" on the porcelain throne for nearly two weeks now. The most amazing part of it all is that she is napping in her undies AND waking up each morning with a dry pull-up! We may actually make our goal of only having ONE child in diapers! Woo hoo!!
• Chris is wrapping up his 5th consecutive project with MYC and in amazing form, might I add. He has, as usual, received tremendous accolades from King Soopers big wigs and his own company execs for his continued ability to run a safe, clean, under-budget, and on-time remodel. He is nothing short of amazing at his job and I am so proud of him!
• We have ordered the beginnings of the new bedroom that will be for the kids. Two dressers and a mini-crib are on their way. Spring break next week will bring on some serious storage room excavation as I send off baby girl clothes and make room for all the needs of this little boy on the way.
• Tuesday, March 23, marks 24 weeks of pregnancy. That's the 6 month mark! Woo hoo!
  

Want some pics?

This picture is at 22 weeks. I will post an updated one this week.

St. Patrick's Day Parade in downtown Denver. So much fun!

The next few weeks should slow down a little bit which will be really, really nice. Hopefully, I will have some time to update more often...and who knows, post some pics of the new bedroom for the kids!