Santa on a firetruck

It's a Follansbee tradition for Santa to go all around the town delivering Christmas treats to all of the children on Christmas Eve. Anna has got to see Santa on the firetruck 2 years in a row now. It was FREEZING out - especially when the wind blew- but the kids were so excited. They had heard the sirens and were outside in a flash waiting for Santa to arrive. The cold didn't seem to faze them. They got goodie bags with some candy, fruit, and a toy. Jaden kept going to the door pointing and grunting to go out to see Santa again. It was really cute!

Christmas Eve at Grandma's House

It is our family tradition to celebrate Christmas Eve at Grandma's house. We all got cleaned up and went to the 5:00 pm family mass. I waited too long to get a picture of everyone dressed up. I got one of Jaden but unfortunately he had already gotten into the chocolate fudge Grandma had sitting out.

Afterwards, Uncle Kicky, Aunt Kellie, and baby Hayden came down. Then, some of Grandma's friends came. Uncle Richie and Aunt Clarice even surprised us with a visit.

It was fun to eat the yummy food Grandma made (Anna really loved the wedding soup, Jaden loaded up on fudge!) and spend time with everyone. Then, we opened presents and Anna and Jaden put on their Christmas jammies. They looked very cute to wait for Santa to come.

The kids had to wait until we got back to Texas to see if Santa had come to visit them. We left to come home on Christmas day. We stopped for Chinese food before coming home from the airport because we were so hungry! This is the second year in a row that we've had Chinese on Christmas day. The kids must have been very good this year because they found lots of presents waiting for them under the tree!

Jaden and Hayden

We haven't seen my nephew, Hayden, since June. He is 8 months old now and has gotten sooo big! In this picture he's wearing a toboggan that was Anna's when she was a baby. It looks very cute on him!
Jaden is as mesmerized with him now as he was when we last saw him in Philadelphia. He just kept smiling and pointing at him and wanting to pat him. It was very sweet. Hayden didn't know what to think at first -I don't think he's used to a little person in his face - but he started getting a great big smile when he would see Jaden. When we put him in the "Johnny Jump-up" and he was able to move around he would try to grab Jaden whenever he was in range. It was so funny! He would let out this squeal because he was so excited - especially when he caught Jaden (although he had lots of fun just trying!). You can tell that he wants to move so badly. I don't think it will be very long at all. Watch out Mom and Dad!

A Christmas Picture with Santa

Jaden had just fallen asleep on the car ride over to the mall. We had to wake him up to get his picture taken with Santa. This did not make him happy. He had great big tear drops falling onto his sweet little Christmas outfit. We were hoping that he would calm down just a little to get a decent picture but one of the women who was working there actually took him off of Santa's lap. He had started doing his silent cry where he holds his breath and his lips start to turn blue before he lets out a big scream. This can certainly be scary to those who aren't used to him!
Fortunately, Anna and my nephew, Hayden were pretty relaxed and cooperative the whole time. My brother and sister-in-law actually got a sweet picture of Hayden smiling on Santa's lap - it was very sweet. He is the most laid back baby I've met in a long time.
Still, I think these sort of pictures - even with crying, screaming babies- are the most memorable.
We asked Anna if she wanted to sit on Santa's lap but she adamantly shook her head "NO!". She was satisfied to tell him in passing that she wanted a Barbie for Christmas.

Another "Kicky" in the family

Many of you probably do not know the story about how my brother got his name "Kicky". He was born Robert Theodore Wolfgang but to me and many, many others he will always be "Kicky". I was 4 years old when my brother was born. During one doctor visit not long before my brother was born I was sitting in the waiting room with my mom on her lap. My mom is only 5 ft. 4 in. so at almost 9 months pregnant she didn't have much of a lap. The baby kicked while I was sitting on her lap and I fell off onto the floor. I remember looking around the room and being very embarrassed. I couldn't believe my mom pushed me off of her lap! Then she told me that it was the baby. A few days later my brother was born. When I was taken to the hospital to meet him I announced to everyone that his name was "Kicky". Needless to say, it stuck. It's funny but right before he started school he was so upset because he wanted to be called "Robert" and not Kicky. Now I can't think of anyone who calls him anything else!

While I was visiting my mom I found out about a place where you could get a video or DVD of your ultrasound: "A womb with a view" (I love that name!). I have videos of Anna and Jaden's ultrasounds but they will not allow you to video them down here. So, I was excited to get a chance to have a video for baby #3. Unfortunately, the ultrasound could only be in 2-D but it was very, very well done. It was really cool to get to watch the baby move around. The woman who perfomed the ultrasound did a great job. The thing that stood out the most to me was how much the baby kicked! I was worried because I wasn't seeing the arms. The woman showed me each of the baby's arms - they were both there. Then, I worried because he or she was not moving them but he or she finally did. But mostly the baby kicked. I think we just might have a "Kicky" II on the way!

The Birthday Celebration Started Early

Since Grandma and Aunt Megan wouldn't be able to come down on Anna's actual birthday we celebrated at Grandma's house a little early. Nothing wrong with a little extra celebrating! Anna even got to have a birthday cake from my absolute favorite bakery - Gus's Goodies. It was delicious.

Baby Belly Shot

While I was pregnant with Jaden I didn't get a chance to get a good "belly shot" because he came much earlier than we expected. I took some of the usual just standing up against a wall to document the growing belly but they didn't have much "flair". This time I decided to start early. My friend, Dana, was able to take a nice picture for me while I was visiting. This is my belly at 27 weeks.

Winter Snow Fall

The kids were able to play in the snow at least a little bit while we were at Grandma's. It was very, very cold most days but only snowed 2 days. The first day we weren't prepared with appropriate attire. In our defense - we don't have much of a need for snow boots and snow suits in Texas. But we went out that very night and got the goods. Unfortunately by the time we got back home it was too dark to play. There was a little more snow the next day so they took advantage!

Hershey's Chocolate World

Before and after the big game we were able to visit Hershey's Chocolate World. The kids love, love, loved the little ride they had that showed you how they make chocolate. We had to go twice - once with Aunt Clarice and once with Uncle Kicky!

Santa's Factory Works Workshop

While we visited Hershey's Chocolate World Anna got to be a "Santa's Official Product Tester". She was employee #27. She worked on the assembly line to make Hershey Kisses. She did a great job following all of the instructions her "boss" gave to her. She especially enjoyed getting to take home her "work". Delicious!

First, she had to put the cog on the grate and push the button. The hershey kisses fell off the assembly line into the plastic cog.

Next, she put the lid on the kisses and got in line. They shook it to the right, shook it to the left, and did a little spin.

Finally, she put the cog on the final conveyor belt to be wrapped up. I missed taking the picture but she also blew them a kiss as a final send off!

State Championship Game

During our trip back to WV we had the opportunity to travel to Hershey, PA to watch my cousin Sean's football team in the Single A State Championship game. He is the Assistant Coach and Defensive Coordinator for the Serra Catholic Eagles. It was a very exciting season for the Eagles. They took home the Silver Trophy!

Earlier, they even got to play at Heinz Field. Just a few years ago the school had discussed discontinuing the football program. I'm sure after this awesome season the football program will be around for a long, long time.

Let me just say that it was FREEZING during the game! The kids had layers and layers of clothes on (still not enough according to Grandma!). Both Anna and Jaden fell asleep and were covered in not less than 3 of the blankets Grandma brought (oh, there were more for Aunt Megan, Uncle Kicky, and nearby cold fans). When Jaden woke up we had to take him back to the car because he wouldn't keep his gloves or hat on and his little fingers were icy!

17-week ultrasound

This is the 17-week ultrasound of our developing baby. This picture was actually taken on 10-12-2007. I am just about 25-weeks now. Everything seems to be moving along how it should. which is good news. The results of the AFP (Alpha Fetal Protein) blood test came back normal - I'm not a cystic fibrosis carrier, there isn't an elevated risk of neural tube defects, my blood pressure has been normal, my blood count is good (actually my Mom said it was really good for being pregnant - it was 14. something. I think I owe it to all of the turkey I ate around Thanksgiving!). I've gained around 6-8 pounds so far. This is right on track with my previous pregnancies. The doctor measured my belly at the last visit and even though I was 24 weeks I measured 25 and a half! I guess that means the baby is growing just fine.

Time seems to be going by faster than I had thought it would. I imagine time will go by even faster these last few months - especially with the holidays. Even though I've seen ultrasounds of my other children and the children of my family and friends I still find them so amazing. I am thankful for the technology that let's us get a sneak peek of our new baby long before he or she will come into the world. It is a tremendous peace of mind to know that the little one is developing like they should and at least that much is okay. After Jaden's unexpected, early arrival I'll take all of the peace of mind I can get!

I have to say that I am very proud of myself because I scanned this picture (or anything for that matter) into the computer for the first time ever with my new Christmas present from my Mom. Chris had scanned the it for me several weeks ago but he never e-mailed it to me and I got tired of waiting around. :)

The skunk princess

This has got to be the most interesting costume she (or anyone I can think of for that matter) has ever come up with! Yes, those are two pom-poms tucked into the front of her bathing suit.
And, yes, that is a wool duster that she has tucked down the back of her bathing suit bottom. The fuzzy part of the duster is supposed to be the skunk's "tail", I believe.
I have no idea where she came up with this idea of a "skunk princess" or the out
fit. All I know is yesterday she stuck her butt out toward me and told me that I had been sprayed!
I imagine that she will be very embarrassed about this post one day but it was so unusual that I could not pass it up!

Jaden's first trip to the zoo

We visited the Houston zoo the day after Thanksgiving. It was such a nice day. Aunt Kelli, Uncle Mike, Justin, Alex and Nicole joined us. Jaden really enjoyed seeing all of the different animals and just running around!



There weren't any prairie dogs out today (probably too cold for them - it was maybe 60 degrees). But our little prairie dogs were happy to pop their heads out for us to see. You had to climb through a little tunnel to get to these pop-up windows. You could hear Jaden screaming from the outside. But, as soon as his little head popped up and he could see all of the people he thought it was pretty cool!
The kids had a great time at the petting zoo area. Nicole was finally happy once a pink brush was available - it was a little touch and go until then. Someone almost got a red brush up the side of the head! This goat was so good. It just sat there (it was sleeping at first believe it or not) while Jaden and Nicole and then a bunch of other kids came over to brush it.

This is just a beautiful picture that my brother-in-law, Mike, took of Jaden and Chris. He actually took all of them which is why they are such good pictures. I brought a camera with me but didn't bother to take any because his are so much better!

The making of a Christmas card

Getting a (good) picture of a child is hard enough but definitely gets trickier when there are 2. You can multiply the difficulty by 10 when one of them is a baby or toddler. It was fun though. I think I enjoy the out-takes as much as the keepers so I thought I would share some of them with you.