On Saturday our good friends Maggie & Jake were married, and Claudia was their flower girl!!! She did a really good job and I am VERY proud of her!!! The wedding site was absolutely gorgeous, so of course I couldn't resist having some pictures taken... go figure... LOL!!! This is one of my favorites!!! Claudia sure does love her baby brother or sister. She is going to be a wonderful big sister!!!

There are many more wedding day pictures on Claudia's blog... so don't forget to check it out:)

Happy Summer!!! ~ Jenn

Wow... that baby is definitely growing!!! I can't believe I am 24 weeks along already... where has the time gone??? I'm also not quite sure where this baby is going to go... I'm sure I'll just keep expanding... but wow... that sure is quite the change!!!

Feb. 2007 ~ July 2007

All in all I am feeling really well. I love that we have a pool to enjoy!!! That sure does make the hot & hazy summer days much more comfortable:) Baby is growing perfectly... not to mention busy ALL the time!!! I don't remember having this much baby movement with Claudia. This little one is definitely a little wiggle worm:) Praise God for that!!!

The "big day" is scheduled!!!

Today I had a routine OB appointment. All was great!!! Baby is doing well... as is mommy:) For the most part I am feeling great and really enjoying the pregnancy. Somedays I have some discomfort as baby is growing, but all in all it is great. The baby is definitely a mover in there. I am getting thumped and bumped ALL the time... but I'm not complaining about that... it's the most amazing feeling ever!!! At the end of the appointment we actually scheduled our C-Section. Baby will be here before we know it:) We are really excited to meet this little miracle, but I am hoping that things slow down a bit and I can have some time to really enjoy the next few months:) I hope you are all doing well and all have a safe 4th of July Holiday:)

The bedding has arrived...

Susie called me this morning and said she had finished most of the bedding!!! She is leaving for vacation and won't be back until August, and didn't want me to have to wait that long for the bedding, so she wanted to bring over the things she was finished with... I am SO in LOVE!!! It all turned out so well. It's definitely one of a kind... and I LOVE that!!!

Me & Susie
(Thank you Susie for all of your hard work!!!)

Jon walked in the room this morning and said... "um... what if this baby is a girl?", so I explained to him that we thought we were safe with the teal, and once the baby does arrive and if it is a girl, then we will add some pink polka dots. I also have another fabric to use that is "girlie" with pink and teal flowers. But we thought it would be easier to add colors then to take them away later. Obivously Jon and I didn't pick out the colors together... he is so sweet to let me decorate all on my own:)

Claudia and I also have some art projects this week planned for the babies room... I'll make sure to post the final art work later:) Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend... the weather is PERFECT!!!

YEAH!!! The walls are painted!!!

My friend Susie has been busy at our house this week. She spent a lot of time painting for us and we couldn't be happier with all of her hard work!!! Thank you SO much Susie... you are AWESOME!!! Alright... time to check out the nursery!!!

Before paint...

and AFTER...

Susie is still working hard on getting the bedding altogether, and hopes to have it done this weekend. I can't wait to see it all together. It is really going to be a FUN nursery!!! I have a few more things to do as well... but it's coming... keep watching for the finished project!!!

Ready to paint!!!

Today was yet again another "nesting" day for me... and my mission was the nursery!!! I know I had cleaned it out a few weeks back, but today we took out Mattie's old bed and everything else that is not staying in the babies room. It is now ready for paint. I can't wait!!! Hopefully in the next few weeks we should have the painting done and everything where it is supposed to be.

~ Before ~

~ After ~

Half way there!!!

Wow... where has the time gone??? I am already half way through this pregnancy. In another 20 weeks we will meet this little miracle face to face!!! I'm starting to wonder how much space this baby is going to take up inside me... I'm REALLY growing!!! It's hard to believe I have only gained like 7 lbs and that's after loosing more than 10 in the 1st trimester, so I am still breaking even ... it sure looks and feels like a lot more than that... but I'm not going to complain:)

Life has still been very busy over here. My grandma is home and that is a blessing. We are still praying that her body is clear of infection soon and that she is able to have her Mastectomy this coming Friday. This weekend my cousin Katie and I hosted a Moving Sale at grandma's and boy did that keep us busy. The next few weeks I'm sure will be very emotional as we say good-bye to the only home we know of grandma living in, and I'm sure being pregnant is not going to help those emotions (as I am already wiping my eyes of tears), but her next journey is going to be amazing... her Condo is GORGEOUS!!!

One blessing right now is all the movement that I am feeling... I am beginning to even experience some good kicks on the outside, so that is fun!!! I can't wait for Claudia and Jon to get some good kicks too:) I still can't help but stare at my ultrasound pictures daily... I just can't believe how all of that is happening inside me (okay so I am wiping tears again!!!)... it is really such a miracle!!! God surely is good!!!

So here are the latest belly pictures... the first is me in February when we found out, and the other is from this morning... wow... what a difference!!!

4 weeks ~ 20 weeks

It's a...

SURPRISE!!!


The Ultrasound was great!!! Jon went with and it was just so neat. I had a tear in my eye the whole time. Everything looked great. It's amazing what they can see. Jon really did not want to find out the sex, and I really wanted to. Jon gave in and said I could find out, but this baby is already on daddy's side... and would NOT cooperate, so it still remains a surprise. It was just AWESOME though!!! Here are some pictures of our beautiful baby. We hope you enjoy them as much as us!!!

~ profile ~

~ arm & leg ~
~ hand... look at those fingers ~
~ sitting crossed leg ~
~ Baby Van Dyke ~

It's scheduled!!!

That's right... it is scheduled... the big ultrasound that is!!! I can't wait!!! I had a doctors appointment today which was good because my allergies have been HORRIBLE. My OB gave my a prescription for Nasonex to help give me some relief... so hopefully in the next few days I will be able to breathe again... I can't wait!!! Claudia and I heard the heartbeat and everything else looked great. At the end of the appointment we scheduled the ultrasound... it's next week Wednesday already!!! I can't wait!!! I really need some good news right now.

Today has been a rough day. My grandma Stegenga got a call from her doctor today and he told her the results of her tumor biopsy came back and that they were not good and that she has cancer. I really am just in shock about it. She will meet with the doctor on Tuesday to discuss the next step. I told my OB about it today, as she could tell that something was bothering me, and she was so sweet. She told me that I could call or stop in anytime if I needed anything. Even if I just wanted to hear the babies heartbeat... what a sweetie. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful doctor.

Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers... we have a long, stressful road ahead of us. I keep telling myself that God is good and that he WILL see us through this, and although we can't see it right now, there is a reason that all of this is happening. Thanks ~ Jenn

AAAHHH....CHOO!!!

Allergies... man do they really get me down!!! The last few days have been rough. I just wish that I could breathe with ease. I would highly recommend if anyone is thinking of buying stock to buy stock in Kleenex... I've been using almost a box a day... ugh!!! Other than allergies I am feeling great in regards to my pregnancy. I go to the doctor Friday and will get to schedule my BIG ultrasound. I can't wait!!! Even though we are not finding out if this little blessing is a boy or a girl, it still will be fun to see how well this baby is growing. The babies thumps and bumps are getting stronger and that is awesome!!! If I could just get rid of these allergies I would be all set... until then... I'll just keep on blowing my nose... all day long!!! ~ Jenn

Cleaning day!!!

Well... it's Memorial Day weekend. We usually spend the weekend up at the cottage, but we just have so much going on right now and the weather was just not good cottage weather, so we stayed home. I must be nesting because I decided to start working in the nursery today. Boy did I have my work cut out for me!!! Here's a few pictures of the room at the beginning of the day... it kind of looks like the never-ending job...

After cleaning and organizing ALL day...

DRUM ROLL PLEASE...

TA DA!!! It actually looks like a room... a baby could actually sleep in the crib right now. It's just amazing to me. The picture in the middle is the closet, after I cleaned it out... and the last picture is with the closet full of "baby things". I can't believe I already have baby clothes hanging in the closet... I never thought that was going to happen today. It sure feels good!!!

Now the next job is to find cheap carpet and get the room painted. There is still a lot to do, but it at least looks like a bedroom again!!!

Operation Nursery...

So I've started working on the nursery... boy do I have A LOT of work ahead of me!!! Right now the room is half filled with "storage" items... Jon's going to be so happy when he realizes that it all has to go downstairs... oh well!!! Today I went and picked out my bedding material. A lady that I work with is going to be making all my bedding. We are not finding out the sex of the baby so I had to go with something that would work for boy or girl. Here is what I picked out...
If the baby is a girl, we'll use the floral print to make some pillows, basket liners and other fun things... I can't wait!!! I think it is going to be SO cute!!!

Right now the plan is to paint 3 of the walls a neutral/beige color and then we'll have an accent wall that is brown. Then to make it fun we'll put some polka dots on the wall, if it's a girl maybe we'll add a few flowers here and there. I am really starting to get excited about this!!! I better get my buns cleaning that room out... there is SO much to do yet:)

Happy Mother's Day!!!

I can't believe that I am 16 weeks/4 months pregnant already!!! The time sure is flying by!!! I have been feeling much better. This past week my allergies were a challenge, but they seem to be calming down a bit and I am actually able to breathe again and that is great!!!

I have SO much to be thankful for this Mother's Day. It's hard to believe that 4 years ago is when we decided to start trying for a family. There were many days I wondered if I would ever be a mom. Thankfully God has a blessed plan for each and everyone of us. The journey has not always been easy, but God is good and not only were we blessed by the presence of Claudia Clara, but now baby #2 is on the way!!! God is AMAZING!!! Great things truly do come to those who wait!!!

On this Mother's Day I also just want to say a special thanks to my amazing husband. He is the other half that makes me whole. Some day's are a bit more challenging than others, but at the end of the day I am just so blessed to have him and be loved by him. He genuinely loves me for me and I love him for him... that alone is a special thing... because I know there are MANY days I may not always be lovable. Thank you Jon for being my husband... I love you!!!

Alright... so enough of all the lovey dovey stuff... can you tell that I am hormonal today?!?! This morning it was a blessing to take that 16 week picture. It was also VERY special because a great friend of mine let me borrow her Doppler and I was able to hear the babies heartbeat. It made for an extra special Mother's Day!!! Thanks Raelynn!!! So without further a due... here is my 16 week picture...

4 weeks ~ 8 weeks ~

12 weeks ~ 16 weeks ~

Happy Mother's Day to all Mother's!!! ~ Love, Jenn

I'm a Stay at Home Mom!!!

Well... at least I am a stay at home mom until September!!! I am so excited to be home for the next few months. To make it even better I am feeling MUCH better!!! I still get some nausea every once in a while, but it is so much better. Right now I can honestly say I LOVE being pregnant!!! My allergies are starting to get a bit under control again too... which is great... it sure is nice being able to breathe again!!!

This summer is going to be all about making memories. I can't wait to make it extra special for Claudia. She is at such a fun stage right now, and is like a little sponge soaking EVERYTHING in, so I can't wait to make many new memories with her.

Make sure to check back Sunday as that is when I'll reveal the next belly picture... I am quite excited to see the change.

Thanks again for all of your love and support:) ~ Jenn

I bought my first baby thing!!!

Well the garage sales have begun!!! YEAH!!! I am all about a bargain!!! Today I found a double stroller for $5... yup... that's right $5!!! I couldn't believe it. Yeah, it's used and a little worn, but it works GREAT!!! I can't believe that next year at this time I'll have 2 kiddos to put in a stroller. I also found a BUMBO for $5 today... (for those of you who don't know a BUMBO is a special seat that you can sit your baby in to help them sit on their own... it's really cool)!!! Oh yeah... I also got Claudia a whole new wardrobe of outside play clothes, she is all set now... gotta love those garage sales bargains!!!