14wks!!

Here's the beginning of baby belly pictures! 14wks and praise God my all day sickness is easing up a little bit. I go the end of the month for my echocardiogram and my next baby appointment where I'll schedule the ultrasound. My hearts been acting up since I frist realized I was pregnant. Back in the beginning of November I wore a 24hr monitor and it picked up multiple PVC's (premature ventricle contractions), I think it was about 25% of the time, and palpitations. Since then, I had to go the ER because I've noticed it starting to happen more often and for longer amounts of time. They really were pushing a type of beta-blocker but we said not right now, especially not before being seen by a cardiologist, then it was an ABSOLUTELY NOT when we heard the effects it could have on our baby. So, prayers would be most welcome and we'll keep you all updated!!!

Just a few of her favorite things...

Our big girl is 21 months already, can't believe she's going to be 2 soon! WOW But here are some current wild woman favorite things!

Being naked, from sun up to sun down.

Reading to the baby in Momma's belly

Playing with Daddy and Retta-Roo

Playing with coins on Momma and Daddy's bed, then hiding them in the sheets

Her barn and animals

Getting a bath

Helping Momma make dinner

Brotchen (German Bread)

Going to see Daddy at work with Jimmy

The Christmas tree

Veggie Tales

Special Treats

Eggs

Rocking on her Poppa Huff Neigh

Dressing up in Momma's clothes and Daddy's boots

Coloring

Brushing her teeth with our Sonicare

Getting her ears cleaned (I know)

Skyping

Singing

Driving her school bus and baby stroller

... there's really not a whole lot she doesn't like, maybe I should have put that list up instead?

Big Sister!!

While we were home in the fall we found out I'm pregnant!!! We're beyond excited and feeling so very blessed! Audrey is really turning into a big sister already! Some of her favorite things to do know is read, snuggle and kiss the baby belly. Through out the day she'll ask for my "hannie" and lead me to the couch so she can curl up and love on my belly. It's adorable.

She's also very protective of the baby. Audrey is the only one who can kiss, rub, or look at the baby. haha It's pretty funny. If Ben sneaks a kiss or she catches him rubbing my belly she tells him to say sorry and will usually cover my belly up or shield it.

The kiddos will be about 27 months apart when the baby is born. Right now the due date is 13 June 2012. Morning sickness is still hanging around however, it's not all day and all night like it was. I never remember it being as intense and persistant with Audrey as it is with this one. But, it's all sooo very worth it.

Christmas Markets!!!

Since we've come home from visting the States we've been able to see a few Christmas Markets. Audrey ADORES Christmas Markets. We asked her the other day what she wanted to do and she replied, MARKET!! It could possibly be her favorite because of the special treats we all get to share!

We had the chance to go visit friends from Washington that just moved to Germany near Nuremberg. We hadn't seen them in about three years. It was really great to spend time together. It was a cold weekend but we're learning how to bundle up and keep a 21 month old warm and happy :) We spent a few hours in Rothenburg, but it was really windy and got bitter cold as soon as the sun went down so we left early. We then took the train into the city and spent the whole day. We walked and walked and walked some more! There was so much we wanted to see but, it's definitely not a one day trip if you want to see it all. We'll be going back for sure! I thought I had taken more pictures but I was really just taking it all in for myself, sorry :) It was a great way to spend some much needed family time.

Here's the wild woman enjoying her first taste of kinder punch or kinder Glühwein. Regular Gluhwein is made with hot red wine, spices, and some sugar. The kiddo version is made with cherry tea, grape juice, spices, and some sugar. The wild woman and I really like it, Daddy prefers the real stuff :) This was at our local Christmas Market shortly after we came home.

This one is our favorite! haha I REALLY LIKE THIS MOMMA!

One handed!

Getting ready to enter Rothenburg the walled city, built in 1388!

It was like pages from a fairytale.

I enjoyed the street decorations, Charlie Brown trees :)

This market was a little different. The huts were all over the place, in allies, side streets, and the main square.

The train ride to Nuremberg! We dressed for warmth, not fashion :)

Audrey showing her tickets. I learned the hard way how to buy tickets. We only needed one... I bought two.

My two peas in a pod.

The older part is walled in and the newer parts of Nuremberg circle around it. The city is huge.

Fruit Bread hut

Ben really liked it!

I knew I should have taken a picture of what this was called... a type of lebkuchen

Tons of wood works

Ben and I got a kick out of this. It's not the Deutch Red Cross, its the Bavarian Red Cross. The best way I can relate it to you is like this. You have the United States, and you have Texas. :)

The Church in the main square. On the hour it would go off and you could watch the little show below. It was really neat at noon. People were everywhere, just standing around with their cameras ready, looking up. 

Enjoying her special treat.. one of many that day :)

Mmmm, my favorite! She' calles it her Auddy Tea.

While she slept in the carrier, Ben and I treated ourselves with a chocolate covered banana... amazing. We felt bad we were eating it while she was sleeping so we kept the last bit for her on the train. The little stinker ate the chocolate off and handed Ben the banana to ben. It was really good chocolate :)

"Sticky Messy" It's was Aud says when she's done eating and she's got stuff all over her.

I know long post but I thought I'd just get it all covered with one!

He's just that good.

My man, is the best. There really is no other way to put it. He can clean the apartment in a fraction on the time it takes me, sometimes it really kills me that I can't do that. And yes, he really does clean and not just hide things :). He can organize in a snap, he can read me like a book with extra large letters, make me laugh even when I don't want to,  he goes to work everyday to provide for his family and protect his country, he's the best Dad a little girl could ask for, and on morning's like this one, he's my knight in shinning armor!!!! Let my tell you why....

Aud is an early riser. Early. The last 3 morning's it's been 0500-0530. Today is a big day. We're going to try and get on a plane to come home!! Praise God! With getting up earlier, she's also been a bit of a bear. Ben had off today and I was praying so hard last night Aud would sleep in with the long day of travel we have in front of  us. But, at 0445 this morning she woke up crying. Ben got up went into her and did something I have never been able to do. He put her back to sleep. He's my hero everyday but even more today. I'm showered, bags are packed, I'm fed and watered, and she's still sleeping. Bliss. Relief. Thankfulness.

She is such a Daddy's girl, it's almost ridiculous. I'm praying she does well while we're home without him. She's going to have so many distractions and people to love on her- she's going to have a blast!!!!

Baby Powder

The other morning Aud and I were getting ready to go out the door and see Daddy. Aud was all ready just missing her hat and jacket. I was brushing my teeth while she un-packed the diaper bag. I was less than a minute into brushing, my teeth when I smelled baby powder, a lot of baby powder. I stepped out of the bathrrom into the hall and found an empty bottle of powder and the wild woman. I got down on my knee and asked, "Lou, what happened here?" She replied "Pow-doo Momma" in a tone of voice that was like you really don't know?

Praise God it was only a small bottle of Pow-Doo!!!

Sidewalk Chalk

The wild woman loves to color! After she wakes up in the afternoon we go outside to blow bubbles, color with sidewalk chalk, and pick posies. She talks about it and says she's "cited Momma"

We were running out of the first bunch of four sidewalk chalk colors so I went to get some more and they had a box of 12! I have to admit, I was really excited!! haha Ben took her out the other day to play and I went down after getting dinner ready for a friend of ours. I don't know who likes coloring more, Aud or us.

The red carpet for our dinner guest!

Aud's silhouette 

Just covered in chalk :)

Near impossible to get her to stand still for a picture! haha

Three guess's who drew this one, and the first two don't count.

So after rolling on the red carpet, the wild woman thought it would be a good idea to taste the chalk.... this is her spitting out the chalk.