First Snow Day!

Yesterday morning we had a little dusting of snow on the grass and this morning we woke up to almost a foot of snow. It was great, it reminded me of home. Brad and I had our first "snow day" and we got to stay home with Rylee. I was really excited to take Rylee outside and play in it. I think she was kind of excited to go out there too. Then we get out there, Brad puts her down, she tries to take a step in the deep snow and faceplants. She did not like the snow all over her face! I know this sounds mean but I wish I would have had my camera out to take a picture of her laying face first in the snow or when she got up and had it all over her. It was still in my pocket and I wasn't ready for it. So she didn't start out loving it but then I think she kind of got used to it. Brad pulled Rylee and I around in the sled and she liked that. We were outside playing for about 45 minutes and then I thought her hands were getting cold so we went inside. Then she stood by the window and watched the kids play and Brad shovel. I love snow days!

This was right after we got done wiping her off from her faceplant in the snow. She wasn't too happy about that.

Daddy and Rylee playing in the snow.

Checking out the snow all over her mittens.

All bundled up and can barely move.

This one was my favorite.

Going for a walk with dad.

It was easier for her to walk in the street where the snow was already plowed.

Rosy cheeks. It sure was nice to get some fresh air today.

Daddy pulled us all around the cul-de-sac in the sled and she loved it.

She didn't last as long on her own, she liked it better being on mom's lap.

"Hi dad"

"Bye, bye"

Indy's Children Museum

Last Saturday we went to the Indianapolis Children's Museum for the first time. We went with our friends the Dippold's and the Smith's. The place is huge, it is 5 floors. We probably made it through about 1/4 of it in 2 hours. Then we all got hungry so we went to the cafeteria area and ate lunch before we all headed home. The kids really had a great time. Unfortunatley my camera died after we left the first room but I did take a lot of pictures in the short amount of time my camera made it.

Driving her first race car (Grampa Bernie is going to be jealous)

She's got the hang of this driving thing, she only needs one hand on the wheel.

Going down the slide

I'm not exactly sure what this display is but Rylee thought it was cool.

Playing in the sandtable with Daddy.

She really liked playing with the sand (but used the shovel the whole time.)

Beau and Rylee playing with the train set.

Rylee was so interested in everything that she wouldn't look up for me in any of the pictures.

Rylee and Grace bouncing and yelling in the playgym.

I finally got her to look but no smiles. She looks so serious but I promise she really did have a good time.

Rylee and I on the huge carousel. I was surprised she actually sat on it the whole time and seemed to like it (again you can't really tell by this picture). Daddy watched us and everytime we went around she would wave to him. My camera wasn't working at this point but Abby sent this one to me, thanks Abby.

It's A Girl!

It's a girl! Our ultrasound went great today. Our baby girl looks healthy and everything measured right on. We are so happy and thankful to see our baby moving around and hear the news that everything looks great. She weighed 1 lb. and 1 oz. which puts her right at the 55th percentile for 21 weeks (which sounds good to me). She was very cooperative and showed us that she's a girl a few times. I am very excited that Rylee will have a little sister! I love my sisters so much and having a sister is such a special relationship that only sisters understand. We told Rylee tonight that she is going to have a little sister and of course she could care less. She has no clue what that means. But some day she'll understand and love that little sister of hers.

Right now she is still breech and she was in the pike position. Her head is by my belly button, her bum is down, and her legs come up my right side.

Big round belly =)

She's talking to us in this video (or practicing her swallowing skills)

Look at those long skinny legs kicking around. Her measurements all measured right on for the 27th but her legs measured 4 days ahead.

Little feet and toes

Peek! Check her out playing Peek-a-boo.

Dentist/Doctor Appointments

Rylee had her follow-up Dentist visit today. Once again, she absolutely hated it! I really hope she is too young to remember all this, otherwise I swear she is going to be traumatized for life and always fear the dentist. She had to get x-rays taken again and that is the worst part. When they put the film in her mouth, she was crying so hard that it moved, cut her, and started gagging her. She spit up flem from so much crying and gagging. After a few attempts they finally got a "good enough" picture they said. The x-rays reported good news. The one tooth they are worried about the most is the top middle right one. That is the one where she fractured the root. But the x-rays showed a little dark spot in the root but not enough to make the doctor think she needs a root canal right away. She said it is a concern of hers but we just have to keep an eye on it, and watch for any discoloration, swelling, or infection. It is already slightly discolored she said but it still appears "alive", which is great. She also held a special light up to it to look at and she showed Brad and I that tooth under the light. It was kind of crazy, it's like a spider web, or a cracked windshield. She has a bunch of hairline fractures in that tooth but none that went all the way through. So in other words, it is pretty "fragile" and again we just have to keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't get worse. She said the bottom tooth that was cracked almost in half looked good and didn't appear to be loose. She has x-rays again in 2 months to check on that top tooth and root. But overall, I would say it was pretty good news. I was excited to walk out of there and not have scheduled her for a root canal.

For other news, we have our big ultrasound appointment tomorrow morning at 9:00. I can't believe it is that time already, I'm already 21 weeks. We are excited to see our little baby tomorrow and pray that he or she is healthy. We honestly don't care one way or another if it is a boy or girl but we are very excited to find out. Hopefully the baby cooperates and we do find out. It looks like on my baby poll, sister won by a lot. Out of 49 votes, 30 (61%) were for sister and 19 (38%) were for brother. We'll find out tomorrow...stay tuned!

20 Weeks

It's hard to believe but I am 20 weeks along today. I feel like its gone by a lot quicker this time. I know its because Rylee keeps us so entertained that the days just fly by. Especially this past month because of the holidays. I am feeling really good. My hormones sometimes get to me and I can get moody but other than that I don't feel that different. I am feeling the baby a lot, which I love. I started feeling movements at around 17 weeks but it was mostly at night and in the morning when I was laying in bed. This past week I started feeling the baby through out the day. I like feeling the little kicks every once in awhile. I don't really remember these little kicks as much as I remember the big kicks later on with Rylee. My belly is definitely growing! I know I have a lot more growing to do though. I do have to say that once again I love the bella band. I can still wear a lot of my regular pants with the help of that thing.

Here's a 20 week belly shot.

I took this tonight and I am in my sweats and slippers but that is pretty normal for me. The first thing I do when I get home from work is put the comfy clothes on. I am not sure if you can see in this picture but my belly button has already popped out, and its been popped out for a few weeks now. That's a lot earlier than it did with Rylee. I didn't realize this until tonight but I went back and looked at my 20 weeks pictures from Rylee and I am noticeably bigger this time than I was then. I showed Brad the difference and he so kindly reminded me its because I had abs the first time. Real nice hey.

Of course I had to get a picture with my other Babe too.

I also realized that I haven't even put up the ultrasound pictures yet from our first ultrasound. It was on 11-5 which was around 11 weeks. We were surprised at how much we got to see at this ultrasound compared to our first ultrasound with Rylee (which was at 9 weeks). Here's a few pics of our little one from about 2 months ago.

Baby Spins #2 waving "hi"

Skinny little legs

Face, arm, and hand

I have had 2 other appointments since then. They were just quick appointments but I enjoyed hearing the heartbeat each time. The first time it was 156 and then at my last appointment on 12-29 it was 152. So the heartbeat is nice and strong and kind of on the higher side. Rylee's was always on the higher side too. Is that a sign that this is another little girl? We'll soon find out. Our next appointment is on January 15th and we'll have another ultrasound. I am excited to see the little baby moving all around again and pray that the baby looks healthy. And yes, we will also find out if this little one is a girl or a boy. I am so excited! I put up a poll a few days ago and can't believe how many people have voted already. Sister had an overwhelming lead at the beginning and has always had the lead but brother did pick up and its now a pretty close race. Brad and I both kind of think it is a girl. We're kind of basing it off of 2 things that don't have a lot of validity but the heartbeat has been very similar to Rylee's the whole time (and they say high is girl and low is boy) and my pregnancy has been very similar to how I felt with Rylee. But I was wrong the first time (Brad was right) and we all have 50/50 chance of guessing. Only 1 more week and we'll know! Yeah! We don't have a preference one way or another, we just pray for a healthy baby.

New Kitchen

Unfortunately we were not able to get together with the Spindler's for Christmas this year. We were suppose to celebrate Christmas with them the weekend before Christmas in Chicago at Bryan's place but the weather was bad in Wisconsin so the Spindler's didn't want to travel in it. They shipped Rylee her present and they got her a new kitchen! She loves it! Right now her favorite things are the spoons and bowls and she walks around stirring things all the time. Its cute to watch her play and it should entertain her for the next few years. Its in our kitchen right now but once our playroom is done in the basement it will probably move down there. Here's a few pictures from her cooking tonight. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Spindler!

Chef Rylee!

Concentrating on the spices.

Like I said, her favorite thing to do is stir.

"I think its ready."

"Mmm, mmm good!"

Her shirt says it all =)

Rylee is kind of a messy chef but she sure does love her spices. Check out her cooking!

Christmas 2008

Santa sure "spoiled" the Anderson household. We were told that Santa was cutting back this year but I am not sure if Santa understands cutbacks. Rylee really got into opening her presents. Her eyes would light up as she was opening it, then she would play with it for a little while til someone gave her another one. It was fun to watch.

Wow, the presents stacked up taller than Rylee.

She walked right up to all the presents and then turned and gave us a huge smile. It was like she actually understood that these boxes were filled with toys for her.

We sure had a great Christmas! Christmas evening my mom's side of the family (the Truscott's) came over and we had a huge turkey and ham dinner. It was delicious! We just hung out all evening together and enjoyed spending time with each other.

Grandma Sally with all her Grandkids

Rylee was hamming it up later that evening. She was running around laughing in her Elmo pajama's, dancing, and talking a lot. On this trip she really started talking more. She learned to say Gramma, Grampa, Auntie, and Elmo. My brothers worked on "Uncle" with her but that word was a little more difficult for her. She also started saying "Rylee" and "Where are you?". When she is hiding we kind of sing it to her and now she sings it back. It's really cute. Its her first sentence so I'll have to record it sometime.

On Saturday evening we had Christmas with the Anderson family. The Anderson family is getting so big and I have to say it is quite chaotic, but fun, when we are all together. We are up to 13 great grandchildren and 2 more on the way.

Marissa (my cousin Aaron's wife) and I are due on the same day!

Rylee and Grady playing with their toys

10 of the 13 great grandchildren are under 5. We tried to take a group picture and as you can imagine it was pretty hard. Here is 8 of the great grandchildren.

The Anderson cousins (minus Derek, Amy, Dave, Travis, Rachel, Joel, and Ed)

We had so much fun while we were home but of course the time goes by way too fast! We had to leave on Sunday morning. I always hate saying our "byes", it makes me sad that we live so far away. I am not sure when our next get together will be but hopefully not too long. Our trip back to Indy was much better than the way up. The roads were bare and it only took us a little over 10 hours so that was a huge relief. And Rylee was surprisingly good on both rides. We bought a new portable DVD player for her and some new movies and she really seemed to like them, especially her Elmo movie. Yeah!