Christmas Preparations

I CAN'T WAIT FOR CHRISTMAS! This is by far my favorite time of year. Adam keeps scolding me because every time i run out to run an errand, i come home with another gift for one of the kids. My excuse is...."but it was only $5!" I think Adam is VERY ready for me to be done shopping! My family plays bingo for dollar gifts every year. In the past, we would all go to the dollar store and buy 10 - 15 different dollar gifts. Most of the time they would end up not being used, or a few people would get the same gift. This year, we decided we would all only purchase 5 things, and really put a lot of thought into them. I went out today, after doing a lot of research on some steals, and BOY DID I DO GOOD! I can't wait for people to open my gifts!

I think the nasty bug of sickness has finally started to subside in our house. Adam did get it, and so did Aria. They are both feeling much better. One of the kids will occasionally cough, but that is about all that is left. Thank goodness!! Aria is also sleeping like SUCH a trooper lately. She usually goes to bed around 9 - 10 pm and doesn't wake up until about 7:30am. She eats, and then goes back to bed until about 9:30 - 10:00 am. We are so blessed to have had two kids that are such good sleepers. Asa still sleeps from 7:30 pm, until 9 am. He takes one nap a day from 1:30 - 3:30/4pm.

I am excited to start my new years resolution of working out! I feel like i have been so lazy since Aria was born. Part of it is because when Asa goes to bed, i enjoy sitting and holding Aria. I can't do too much holding of her when Asa is awake because he wants to play. Once Asa goes to bed, i usually eat dinner and then spend then next hour with Aria again because she is awake, and then it is time for me to go to bed. I am going to work in working out starting the 1st of the year...

These pictures are from the hotel and the surprise party for my Grandma in Granite Falls.

This is the day where Asa started feeling crummy. You can just tell by looking at this picture that he doesn't feel the greatest...poor guy!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Wow

After having Aria you would think that blogging would be just as much a priority as it was pre-Aria, however that is not the case. I'll be honest, i love blogging, and reading others blogs, but i just have not had the desire to go online to blog lately. Boo me!

Things around here for the most part have been great. We celebrated my grandma's 80th birthday last weekend by having a surprise party for her. My family headed out Thursday night to Granite Falls, MN and stayed in a hotel. My grandma swims at the community center every morning, so we went to the community center Friday at 6 am to set up for the 7 am party. My aunt and uncle and their family drove in Friday AM, which means they left their house around 3:30 YIKES!! Needless to say, the party was a hit, and my grandma was surprised! We noticed that Friday Asa started not feeling so well. Coughing, runny nose, and just seemed more sad then usual. We made it home from Granite Friday night before the storm hit.

Asa is officially the sickest he has ever been. Adam took him to the Dr today to have him checked. We thought he might have croup, but it is just a bad cold. He has a hacking cough that sometimes seems like he coughs so hard he is going to throw up. His butt is raw and bloody from all of the diarrhea, and his nose runs like a faucet. We feel so bad for him. He has been so good through it all, and will just look at us and tear up and cry. We have had him in the bath so much because that seems to feel the best.

So far Aria has not contracted the sickness. She is such a good baby. She sleeps so well, eats well, and is just really content all around.

Asa still isn't talking much. The majority of his words (which are few) aren't really words, but we know what he means. For example, he will look at our coffee cups and say Ha, which means hot. He also does this to lights, and steam. He does say baba, which is his sippy cup, and can also say dada. He tries to say mama, but it usually sounds like baba. he says papa, which means puppy. He also really loves to hug things. He will pick up anything fuzzy, or that has a picture of something on it, and put it to his cheek and say ohhh. He has been such a good big brother, and really doesn't notice Aria much. He does try to put her pacifier in her mouth if she is crying, he helps us burp her by patting her back, and also helps pat her back if she is laying on her tummy.

I started back to work on Wednesday, however am home today due to Adam taking Asa to the Dr. If Aria wasn't so little he would have taken both to the dr and i would have worked, however i don't think it would have been easy for Adam.

Here is a picture of Asa when we went out and played in the snow.

Aria swaddled laying in her bouncy chair

 This is Aria's favorite position. I know it looks weird, but she loves laying like that and it puts her to sleep every time!

 Daddy and Aria

 I have a picture that was taken professionally of Asa with our rings on his toes. I took a few like that with Aria, but found that i like this one much better.

 Here is Asa at thanksgiving at the Heerens. Sweet chair huh?

Month 1

I can hardly believe it has been a month since Aria was born. Things have been a bit of a whirlwind this past month. It has been an adjustment getting a handle on having two kids around the house under the age of 2. Adam has been working a lot, so i have spent almost every Saturday home all day with the kids, along with every evening. I am getting used to it day by day. Adam's mom has come over a few times to help out, and have some quality time with Asa, which helps me to be able to both relax and scramble to get things done around the house. I took the kids to the Halloween festival at our church the Friday before Halloween BY MYSELF. It was fun to see Asa run around, and i kept Aria in the front pack, but it was not easy and i will NOT do it again by myself.   We have also made the transition to Asa going down for naps and bedtime with out his sippy. We should have done this along time ago, however we just kept putting it off. He has done really well, and cries for a few minutes after putting him down, but has adjusted well. Asa also has his first ear infection. We took him in for his 15 month appt, and sure enough...he loves the medicine though. He is 75% for height and head, and 50% for weight. He for the first time hated his shots and the rest of the appointment. He was leery of both the nurse and the dr and cried quite a bit. Aria is doing so great as well. She is so beautiful and has such a personality. She makes funny noises all the time when she is awake, and loves being held. We swaddle her tight when she sleeps, which Asa hated! We love having a little girl!



Uncle Chuck

 

Step Great Grandma Mary



Great Grandpa Pops



Grandma and Grandpa Erickson

Grandma Heeren



Aria's cousin Sophia giving KISSES!

 
Here are some of our friends that came to visit Aria this past month.

Adam's best friend Mike (Best man in our wedding)



My dear friend Sarah who was my college roommate



My great friend Charity who is expecting in under 10 weeks!



My amazing dancer friend Katie!

One of my oldest friends John. He and i have been friends since 1st grade!!

The family went to Apple Jack Orchards on a gorgeous day!\

When my grandpa and grandma came to visit, Uncle Chuck went outside and raked a big pile of leaves for Asa to jump in. Grandpa even got in on the fun!!

Carving pumpkins was a blast...Asa hated the goop.

Asa was a ninja for halloween!

This last week i cut Asa's hair. I thought it might be a nightmare, but once he got used to the buzzer and had some cookies in his cup, he actually cooperated. I guess this will save us $10 every few months.

Finally, i will leave you with Aria

New Pics

Still trying to adjust with two under two....more to come :)

Aria Jolyse Heeren

I be putting a post up about the birth story soon. I wanted to get pictures up as soon as possible, however yesterday time just got away from me. I actually have not slept since 5:30 am yesterday...all of the adrenaline and events from yesterday just made me have to take time to contemplate the blessings of the day, and didn't end up being able to do so until i was alone and relaxed through the night.

Just Broke my water!

Didn't feel a thing! Hopefully contractions will start soon!

Checked in!

We have officially checked into our hospital birthing room!

Thursday's the day!!!

We just left the Dr and we are scheduled to have my water broke on Thursday! I guess the hospital will call me Thursday morning between 5 am and 8:30 am to set a time for me to come in. It could be as early as 7 am, or as late as noon...pretty weird scheduling process if you ask me. Our Dr said that if they didn't call me by 10 to schedule the time, for us to page him. So we know Thursday is the day, we just don't know what time...

Wish us luck, and keep us in your prayers. We will be bringing my computer, so we will keep you updated.

Until then, i am going to enjoy every last minute we have with Asa, and get all of the last minute things prepared around the house, and packing.

WE CAN'T WAIT TO MEET THE LITTLE GIRL OR BOY GOD HAS BLESSED US WITH!!

Holding Period

Dr's appointment yesterday went well yesterday. Not much progress to report. I am still dilated to a 2, but Dr said that i have made progress. Whatever that means :) He stripped my membranes AGAIN and i have to say third time is not a charm, because it didn't work.

The Dr reserved a spot for me at the hospital on October 7th to break my water. He is working that day, which is comforting knowing that my Dr would be there.

So if nothing happens before October 7th, then that will be the day SOMETHING happens.

And by the way, Adam asked our Dr how many babies he has delivered, and he said over 6,000! WOW

Progress?

I wish i could report that more progress has been made with this pregnancy...

First a picture of my fun stitches adventure last week:

Friday night we had our cocktail reception to raise money for ALS. We were able to raise a great amount of money thanks to all of our generous friends that made it. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

Friday overnight, i lost my mucus plug (sorry if that is too much information). I woke up and was convinced that labor was in the near future. We even went ahead and packed all of the hospital bags in the car with the stuff for the walk Saturday. Saturday was the ALS walk. I WALKED THE WHOLE 3+ miles too!

Crossing the finish line...

I figured if nothing else, losing my plug and walking that far would make me jump start into labor. NOTHING. After the walk we went out to lunch with Adams family to Punch Pizza in Wayzata. All I can say is YUM! We went to Chucks grave with the family after lunch. We brought him a pumpkin and flowers.

We then all went back to Adam's moms house for cake and ice cream to celebrate Lily's birthday.

After cake and ice cream Lily opened her presents. Adam was VERY excited that he got her a remote control car. He has been looking forward to giving her the gift for like 2 weeks.

After gifts we ate dinner and then came home. All day, i had been thinking something would happen, and it didn't.

Sunday evening i was having contractions every 20 minutes or so from about 6 pm until i fell asleep. I was sure i was going to wake up in the middle of the night and have strong contractions. I did wake up, but only because the baby was moving around so much it was about to tear out of my stomach. Today, same thing...some contractions, but nothing that has come closer together or gotten stronger.

Who knows? This baby must just be really content in my tummy! We have a Dr appointment tomorrow. He is going to strip my membranes again, and we will talk about other steps and where to go next.

I'll leave you with two cute pictures of Asa :)

Asa was playing with paper that Adam was shredding :)