Merry Christmas!

Well, we spent this past weekend with the Thornburg/Kutsch side of the family in town to celebrate Christmas. A special visitor came to see us on Saturday, and Nate seemed to really think it was fun - once he warmed up to him. Overall, I think everyone had a great time!

On another quick note - we have been staying warm and dry in all of our crazy winter weather. More snow is expected today/tonight/tomorrow. Good thing we have Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off of work, but Mark might have to come in to do some snow removal. Oh joy.

As far as new baby... I am now 23 weeks (as of Christmas Day). We also think we might have a name for the little peanut - Matthew Patrick Kutsch. While we know we don't want to get anything engraved/embroidered at this point, it seems to be the name peanut will have.

Here are some photos from this weekend. We will add more photos from Christmas morning as soon as possible. Enjoy!

Drew spent a couple extra days with us before the rest of the family arrived. He and Mark went on their first hunting outings together and had a great time.



A special visitor comes to visit! Nate loved having Santa at his house!









Nate playing with (and in) his new Mega Blocks from Papa and Grandma.



Watching Saturday morning Playhouse Disney with cousins Drew and Mikayla



Hanging out with Papa



The whole crew builds a gingerbread house.

Our ultrasound news...

We are having ...

A BOY!

OB appt went well - Nate slept through the u/s. I need another u/s b/c Baby Boy didn't want to stretch out enough to get good spine and kidney pics, but everything else looks good. Heartbeat was 160. He definitely wasn't shy about letting us know he is a boy - and the tech said if she is wrong we can call her and she will change the diapers for a year! (I'd say it is a very good bet then.) Found out the placenta is low lying (marginal previa), which is not a big deal at this point b/c 95% of the time it will move up on its own. If not, still not a big deal and we will cross that bridge if we have to with a c-section, but doc doesn't think it will be a problem at all. I loved this new doc. She was very cool with Nate and very sweet. Oh yeah - quad test came back good.


One more thing - my face is finally starting to not swell anymore from this nasty sinus infection I got. I think it is actually going down some! Yay!

That is the news and I will post pics from this weekend back in St. Louis soon!

Happy Halloween & then some...

Wow - this last week has been absolutely crazy at our house. Last Monday morning Nate woke up sick (and I mean the yucky sicky) and Mark was feeling under the weather, too. So, they both stayed home and tried to get better. Tuesday, Nate showed signs of getting better and Mark was on antibiotics for strep throat, so all was getting better. Then on Wednesday, Nate started to feel ill again, but because there was no fever and he was keeping food down, he went to the sitter, where he proceded to share his germs. Thursday, Lynnette (his sitter) was sick, so Mark and Nate stayed home again! Halloween Friday all was good and we had a great time.

Here are some photos of Nate as Tigger and Mark as a bigger Tigger (that was last minute and turned out really well). Nate was so excited when he saw himself in the mirror as Tigger, and then more excited when he saw Daddy as Tigger.

As they went out tirkc-or-treating on the busiest Halloween street in town, I stayed at our friends' house with some other moms and handed out more than 5 bags of candy. Wow! We barely get 5 trick-or-treaters at our house each year!




After a busy Halloween, we headed up to Dubuque on Saturday morning to help Mark's Aunt Suzanne and Uncle Bob move. By the time we got there at only 9:30 a.m., almost everything was moved already! That made for an easier day than I expected! Nate had a great time playing with all of his cousins and other relatives who were there. There sure is no shortage of attention for our little man. Nate also spent a great deal of time pulling Gandma all over by her fingers so he could show her this and that and play with just about everything. I think both Nate and Gandma had a great time!

More photos from a crazy couple weeks

Well, to put it simply, this was our crazy past couple weeks...

Two Fridays ago we went to see Playhouse Disney Live! It was a fantastic show and Nate loved the whole thing. He was especially excited when Poo Bear and Tigger were on stage. He also got to have his first cotton candy and loved his snow cone in a cup.

I was out all last week at a seminar for school. I had to use vacation time, which had to take from the time I plan to use for maternity leave. The seminar was very interesting though - all about leadership and knowing behaviors. I would recommend it to anyone.

During the week, we had to start Nate on some eye drops for a slight infection he got from his recent cold. He took 'em like a champ though - even giggled when we were putting them in. That can't be our kid!

Then we had to take the dog to the vet for an infection in his mouth. We weren't sure if he would be coming home - he is 9 years old and if it was something serious, we weren't going to put him through all of that pain and inability to eat corectly. Turns out it was just a slight infection and he is on a/b now and taking them well as long as we hide it in a treat and make it a game. He also got a good cleaning and his teath look better than they have in years!

This weekend we went to the pumpkin patch and Nate picked out 2 big pumpkins. He also got to feed goats and cows and took a pony ride. He also liked all of the other animals that were there - like the baby chicks and bunnies. He loved the hayride to the patch too. Then we carved the pumpkins on Sunday and pretty much just hung around the house. I definitely needed that!

I reached 13 weeks last Thursday and I feel sooo much better than I had been. I am not sure if being away from work helped that, but I am pretty sure it did.

Sorry for the novel!

Here are some photos...

From the Playhouse Disney show.






From the Pumpkin Patch.







After the pumpkin patch

Week 12 - and so much going on

OK - so I have no idea why these photos are so big. I will try to figure that out before next time.

Anyhow - we are on Week 12 with Peanut and I am starting to feel a bit better - I still have my days when I just can't get going or I feel sick all day. Those are not the fun days.

Nate is continuing to grow like a weed and is so much fun to watch learn new things. He now can count to 2! Well, we say 1 and he knows that 2 is next. He never really says the 1 on his own. It's a start at least.

This past weekend was a blast at our Thornburg family get-together. Nate got to play with all of the kids and had fun with all of his aunts and uncles too. We got to visit with my Grandma Dorothy, which was nice. We wish we could have stayed longer, but it just wasn't in the cards this time, but we will definitely make plans soon to see everyone again.

This coming weekend is busy as ever. We are going to Playhouse Disney Live at the iWireless Center on Friday, then we have a party at a friend's house on Saturday, and possibly a walk with work on Saturday morning. Phew... wears me out just thinking about it!

Must note that hunting season (bow) has officially started. Mark didn't get anything last weekend (except a bunch of bug bites) and it looks as if it will be too warm to go this weekend. Hopefully soon he gets that trophy!

Enjoy the following photos!

Yep - that is me at only 12 weeks pregnant... I'm already huge!



Nate being goofy!

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Nate in his Uncle Steve's hunting boots!







Nate at the Ox Yolk for an outing where we met up with some friends!
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Nate learning how to play a game with my Uncle David.

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Nate helping Daddy put the door back on after we had to take it off to get the new refrigerator in the house!

Nate and his cousin Drew!
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11 weeks and one stubborn baby

I had my 11-week doc appointment yesterday. I tell you, this kiddo is already a trouble-maker - from making me sick to not wanting to give us a heartbeat at the appointment yesterday. After searching for a good 5-10 minutes with the dopplar, the doc (and I love the one I saw yesterday) sent me down the hall for a quick look inside and there was the little peanut doing flips and had a heartrate of 180! I tell you, I don't know if this one will be as laid back as Nate!

We don't have another appointment for 5 more weeks (election week) - so I am sure things will change quite a bit between now and then.

Last weekend Nate and I met up with some friends in Iowa City area for lunch and playtime at a playground. It was a lot of fun and we were both wiped out by the time we left (well, he got to sleep on the way home). Mommy didn't get my nap because our new fridge came in and we installed that and now I have my ice in the door and Mark doesn't have to listen to me whine about that anymore!

This weekend we are looking forward to a Thornburg family get-together in Keosauqua. Nate has been practicing all of his cousin/aunt/uncle names. When I ask him to say Uncle Arlin, he just looks at me like I am nuts. Aunt Kim, on the other hand, is a bit easier. He is mastering Grandma too, so that will be cool for everyone to hear. He has been saying Papa for a while now - can't figure out why. Could it be because Papa spoils him rotten? Nah. Couldn't be that!

Also this weekend is the start of hunting season. Guess that means we will see less of Daddy on the weekends until he brings home his trophy deer. With the 1/2 cow we are getting and another deer, our freezer will be nicely packed for the winter/spring/summer. That will be great with another baby on the way and a toddler that likes to eat!

This month is shaping up to be pretty busy. We got parties, pumpkin patches, haunted trail walks, and so much to attend. Should be fun and tiring. We love that stuff!

We hope the fall proves to be another great time of year for all of you. We will update with photos from this weekend as soon as we can.

10 weeks

Well, today marks the 10 week point of our pregnancy with little Peanut. I am feeling much better these days, and I am excited to get to the doc next week to hopefully hear the heartbeat. That swoosh, swoosh, swoosh is one of the sweetest sounds ever. At only 11 weeks, there is a possibility it might be a little early to hear it on the dopplar, but we can hope.

Here is a photo of what I look like now... I am much bigger than I was with Nate at this point. Hopefully it will all even out soon.

Yes... we celebrate!

Just had to post that Nate is now using "Yes" appropriately. He now seems to really know the difference between answering yes and no. And when he is really excited he will jump up and down with this very emphatic "YES."

He is becoming such a little person it is crazy. Where does the time go?

9 weeks and counting!

Well, we are officially at 9 weeks pregnant today. Only 31 more to go! (YIKES) I don't go back to the doctor again until October 2nd, but so far things seem to be going onlong nicely. I am in my maternity clothes already - thanks for the weight I never lost from Nate and the fact that this is #2 (I like that excuse). At least I am more comfy now though. I will try to get a photo up of the belly something tonight or tomorrow.

As for everything else in our lives... the fall semester is going along smoothly so far. Seems to be going slower for me this time, but probably because I only have 2 more semesters to go! Nate is still growing and learning new things everyday. It is so much fun to watch him "read" his books upside-down and watching him learn how to more and more things on his own. He definitely is becoming more of a "kid" everyday and less of a "baby."

This week we did get to Moline to see Steve and Liz Morel's new baby boy - Conner Francis. He is very cute with really dark red hair! Congrats!

Nate seemed to like looking and talking to the baby, which we hope is a great sign for the future. He didn't get jealous of me holding the baby, so that is another great sign.

Well, until later, have a great day!

Finally... new photos

Call it pregnancy brain, call it just being extremely tired and not feeling all that well, but I have been really bad about posting photos lately. So - here goes... photos from several events (in no particular order).

Nate with Uncle David

Nate with Uncle Steve
Our family at our work's Customer Appreciation Day
Nate with Pop Pop and Grandma
Nate meets SpongeBob at Customer Appreciation Day.

Daddy and Nate

Nate and Mommy with Dora the Explorer - family meet the characters night before Customer Appreciation Day at work

Nate with Uncle Steve, Uncle David, and Pop Pop

Mommy with all three characters for Customer Appreciation Day. Getting them here was one of Mommy's biggest jobs for the event.

Uncle Steve and Grandma with Nate

Nate learns how to drive a backhoe

I know, I know...

I keep promising photos of Nate, and I will get them up as soon as I can either today or tomorrow. If I don't, I think Grandma Diane is going to get really mad!

Just an update... we are now 8 weeks pregnant with our newest addition. I am starting to feel much better - not as much nausea - but I am still tired, which is to be expected at this point. I can't believe it is only 8 weeks... that is a lot of time left. The next doctor appointment isn't until October. I am already in maternity clothes and loving it! I don't think I am necessarily showing yet, but the early pregnancy bloat and the fact that this is #2 makes maternity clothes much more comfy!

Well... until I post photos...

It has been a long time...

It has begun... our crazy world is getting crazier with the fall semester starting for both Mark and I and with hunting season and the holidays just around the corner.

To make things even more crazy, we have some very exciting news to share from our little family. We will be adding another member to our family in late April 2009. At this point, our little blessing is due on April 23, but since Nate was 10 days early coming into this world, we are not holding our breath to think this one will wait until the 23rd. So, Nate will be a big brother sometime next spring.

I hope to post some recent pictures soon. I just wanted to get that news out here for all of our family and friends to see.

A Great Day at Coral Ridge

Grandma and Pop Pop are in town and we got to spend a fun day at the Children's Museum,
carousel, and Build-A-Bear on Saturday. Needless to say, Nate and really all of us were warn out for the ride home!

Here are some pics from the day!

Nate showing off his vocal talents



On the carousel



A really fun room in the museum where we got to roll golf balls on all sorts of neat ramps

Nate riding a duck in the farm room at the museum

And finally ... some pics from the Great River Days parade on July 26th.