Here Comes Santa Claus...

We took Abbie & Will to see Santa over the weekend. The Lions Club and American Legion sponsor a "Breakfast With Santa" annually. Abbie was so excited to go. When we pulled up to the City Hall she asked if we were at the North Pole! I had to remind her we were still in Bunker Hill, and Santa was here for a visit. She was very curious about how he would get home, where the reindeer were, when they were leaving, etc. Oh to be innocent and young again!

So, we get inside and Abbie clings to Andy. Will goes and stands a few feet from Santa and stares with awe. We try to inch them closer, and they are both scared to death.

Andy manages to snap a pic of me and Will. He was horrified. He clung, wiggled, and cried as I held him.

We decide to do our "breakfast" and see how things go after for Abbie. They also each got a present to open from Santa.

Abbie's friend from Pre-K came. Her name is Abby as well. They decided to sit on Santa together. Abbie spearheaded this operation so secretly I think she was ready to check Santa out. Abbie also sat by herself, but as you can tell by her open mouthed funny face she wasn't totally comfortable. And to think next year we will have added another Manar to sit on Santa's lap...

And, It's A.....

Went to the doctor today for a check up and ultrasound.
This was the one.....we could find out what we are having.
Everything checked out great. Baby looks good!
It's A.......
BOY!
A mother's instinct must always be right. I knew it. Abbie isn't as devastated as one would expect, considering her demand to have a sister. She decided we should name her new brother Diego.....um, NO.
Andy & I are just happy to be blessed with another baby, though I must admit a girl is so much more fun to shop for. Andy suggested I could just buy more for Abbie, so I think that's what I'll do! The girls will officially be outnumbered, but I'm sure we will still Rule!
Oh, and for those interested, I have finally started gaining weight. A whopping 7 pounds in 4 weeks. Faster than I gained with the other two...watch out!

Sneak Peek..

Here's a sneak peek into what our Christmas card picture will look like this year. It was pretty difficult to get Abbie & Will to be serious at the same time, and sit still long enough. They are dangerous together, really! We bribed with suckers and cheese puffs....you may notice some cheese puff remnants on Will's face.

And not to be left out, I have included a pic of baby #3 in my ever expanding belly.

Hola!

Abbie got to meet Dora!

Dora was at the mall in Alton. We took Abbie to see her. She did a good job waiting. Luckily, we didn't have to stand in line. You were given a group letter and just had to come back when your letter was up. Granted, we were there for almost 4 hours.....but we did do a bit of shopping and ate. She had a good time. She did notice that Dora didn't talk to her. As you can tell by the pictures, Dora's head was huge. She could barely walk without 2 people assisting her. Needless to say I don't think "Dora" could see very well or breathe very well, let alone talk in her costume. Anyway, Abbie was excited, so mission accomplished.

In the Christmas Spirit

Tonight I took Abbie & Will to a family night at the school. Andy had a meeting and couldn't come. Will was a handful!

Abbie made a gingerbread house. Will ate from the bag of candy. We have included pictures of her "home" from almost every angle. She is very proud of it!

Abbie made gingerbread scented play dough. Will played in the water, flour, and spices.

Abbie colored and cut out gingerbread clothes and men. Will colored somewhat on the paper...until he discovered he could color the table.

Abbie ate a gingerbread man. Surprise---Will did what he was supposed to and ate a gingerbread man!

Abbie made a gingerbread man ornament. It was a gingerbread man cut out of sandpaper. Then she rubbed a cinnamon stick on "him" to make "him" smell yummy. Will ran around the room.

That was enough fun for one night. Abbie & Will got a gingerbread man cookie cutter and a Christmas book. Abbie had a blast! Will....I'm not so sure.

After we left I drove around town for awhile and we looked at Christmas lights. They particularly like the blow-ups. Their Nono has a ton in their yard....and I mean a ton--literally!

Before we left the house tonight, our financial company called and wanted to conduct a "short" customer satisfaction survey. I politely said we were getting ready to walk out the door, and it was a bad time.

Abbie kept asking when we were leaving. I kept telling her it wasn't time.

She busted me. She said, "but you told the person on the phone that we were walking out the door." Oops!!

In other news, Will got his haircut today. No biggie, he has had a ton.

The shocker is, Abbie got hers cut.

This is only the second time, and the first time doesn't count because she seriously had no clue it was being done. We told her it was just getting combed.

Last night I told her that in the morning we would be taking Will to get his cut, and did she want hers cut.

She said no, she was growing out her bangs.

I said not your bangs, the other hair.

She said, you mean on my arms?

Okay....not sure where that came from.

No, this stuff. I held up her hair on the side and back.

She agreed.

And she was still up for it today.

She sat perfectly still and got about 3 inches cut.

Not sure if you can tell by the pics.

Good night!

Aladdin Overdose

Will is in love with Aladdin. We have to watch it all the time. I'm not a huge Disney fan, but I have suffered through it. This actually was the first time I have seen it.
Watch. Laddin. Watch. Laddin. Downstairs. Come on.
This is what he says over and over and over....until you finally give in.
In other Will news, he is also counting to 4.
We are working on the colors, but when you ask him what color something is, he just says "color."
I did hear him tell Abbie that one of the Christmas ornaments was purple, and he got it right. Hopefully he's on to something.
Otherwise, Will is still my cuddly little mommas boy. I don't want him to get bigger. I love his chubby little cheeks and hands and how soft his skin is.

Abbie is, well, Abbie.
She's the boss, the mom, the dress up diva.....enough said. I'm loving her independence, and I'm loving when she keeps Will busy. Those two are inseparable when they are awake.
She remembers everything. Recently, while we were at my mom and dad's, my dad wanted to give Will a haircut with the Floby. I vetoed the idea.
This week, Andy asked when I was going to take Will to get his haircut.
Abbie said, "Remember when Papa was going to cut Will's hair with the "Floaty?"

I'm still pregnant. Surprise! That's about all for me. I can't wait for our doctor appt. on the 15th. We should find out what we are having!

Andy is busy as usual. He will be accepting a promotion. This was in the Capitol Fax newsletter today. It's the State House "paper." We're pretty proud of him. That's all for us!

Wednesday, Dec 3, 2008
Please, do not share the subscriber-only password or redistribute this copyrighted material in any way. Violations will result in an immediate suspension of your subscription. Thanks.
CAPITOL FAXby Rich MillerVoice 217.529.6811 Fax 312.896.9456 thecapitolfaxblog.com
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 3, 2008

STAFF CHANGES APLENTY Word is that the Senate Democrats’ top budget staffer, Andy Manar, will become the new chief of staff when Sen. John Cullerton is formally elected to the Senate Presidency.
Manar is given high marks by his peers and by members for his knowledge of the budget and of politics in general. He’s also chairman of the Macoupin County Board and was close to the late Senate Majority Leader Vince Demuzio, a towering figure in Illinois Senate history.
Manar would replace Jill Rock, who has served as chief of staff since 2005. Cullerton reportedly wants to do whatever he can to find jobs for everyone who is replaced, and it’s looking like there may be several replacements before it’s over.
More staff changes in Friday’s edition. We have had so many session weeks the past two years that I should probably remind everyone that Capitol Fax is published three days a week during non-session weeks. So, there will be no Fax tomorrow.

First Day Of School

Trying to catch up on pictures....

This is Abbie's First Day of Preschool. I think she needed some sunglasses!

She was so excited to go. Andy & I went with her for the orientation. She didn't want us there. She asked why we had to come. I told her we needed to pay and talk to the teachers about her class. She asked me if we could just pay and leave! Do the teenage years start at age 3?

Her class is really small. She goes to the preschool at our church. There are only 5 in her Tuesday class. On Fridays they combine the 3 & 4 year old classes, so there are 11 total that day.

Next year she will get to go 3 days a week. She loves it!

I See London, I see France....

So, seriously, two months later and I'm still laughing about this. Abbie & Will love to go get in my underwear drawer. I really don't understand why. This is how Abbie came out one night. Either she is really small, or my bottom half is really big!

Wasting Time

Here are a few pics from the Annual Bertels Halloween/Birthday Party. Abbie got to ride Nick. She just loves horses. And Will had fun on the hay ride. Doesn't he look so big?
So essentially I am wasting time. Will is sick. He ran a fever all weekend and yesterday. We visited Dr. Kathie yesterday and learned he had an ear infection. He is permanently glued in my lap. I figured since I am only able to sit, why not catch up on pics and such? I'm going to try to get some more up today during our next lap session. However, nap time is calling now. I'm off to do something productive while the little man sleeps!