PREGNANT!

Well, most of you who read this probably already know this news, but we are having another baby! I am always hesitant to "announce" that I'm pregnant because I have had 2 miscarriages, and there's nothing worse than having to "unannounce" a pregnancy. But I have been to the doctor, saw a healthy little heartbeat on the ultrasound, and I am definitely already developing "the baby bump" ... yes, already! Ugh. I am so sick of all my maternity clothes.

I'm about 10 weeks along now, and I'm due July 20th ... 6 days after my sister-in-law Molly, who is having her first baby around July 14th! Should be fun for the little cousins to grow up together.

Of course, we are all very excited. However, when we first told Audrey about the baby she paused, then calmly said "No." (I should add that in the past when I've asked her if she wants any more brothers or sisters, she has always answered "No, one is plenty!") But when she realized that having a baby added to the family would mean bunk beds, she was all for it. She has been dreaming about bunk beds ever since she spotted them in a display at Kmart! And as time goes by, she keeps saying "when we have the little baby, we can ___, " or "we should name the baby ___". The other day she even said over lunch, "Mommy, when the baby comes, we'll be "Chad & Amy plus 3!" (Can you tell we watch Jon & Kate plus 8"???) So she is accepting and getting excited about the idea too.

I'd say a new baby is the best Christmas present I'll be getting this year!

If I don't post again before Christmas, I want to wish each of you a VERY Merry Christmas. Today I was listening to the song "Welcome to our World" and it brought me back to the true meaning of Christmas. I was so thankful to have that moment to reconnect with what is most important about Christmas - the birth of God's Son, Jesus, and the hope that He brings to us individually and as a community. Here are the words here:

Tears are falling, hearts are breaking
How we need to hear from God
You've been promised, we've been waiting

Welcome Holy Child
Welcome Holy Child

Hope that you don't mind our manger
How I wish we would have known
But long-awaited Holy Stranger
Make Yourself at home
Please make Yourself at home
Bring Your peace into our violence
Bid our hungry souls be filled
Word now breaking Heaven's silence

Welcome to our world
Welcome to our world

Fragile finger sent to heal us
Tender brow prepared for thorn
Tiny heart whose blood will save us
Unto us is born
Unto us is born
So wrap our injured flesh around You
Breathe our air and walk our sod
Rob our sin and make us holy

Perfect Son of God
Perfect Son of God
Welcome to our world

Just reading these words makes me cry. Perhaps I am a bit hormonal ...

Smarter than I give him credit for ...

.... Carter, that is, not Chad. (I already know that Chad's smart!)

For the longest time it has been kind of difficult to know what exactly Carter understands and what he doesn't, simply because until recently he didn't say too much verbally. However, Carter has been saying a lot more in the last month or two. Lately Carter has been fascinated by alphabet letters and has been trying his hardest to sing the alphabet song - it moves a little quickly for his little tongue to make all those sounds, but it sure is cute to listen to him try it! So everywhere we go he yells out "X" or "U" or "O" or whatever letter he happens to see. (At this point he can identify most of them!) So today I'm standing in the checkout line waiting for the woman to scan all my groceries. Carter looked up at the number over our line and said "Eight!" Sure enough, it was an "8". I was kind of surprised but thought, 'Hmm, maybe he just knows the number 8 for some reason." Then he looked at the next number over - and I said "7". He looked farther down the rows and yells "6" .... "5" .... then he looked the other direction and said "9". He was right on with each one!

Guess it isn't only the letters he's been studying ... he's been learning those numbers too!

Smart little boy!

More Christmas fun ...

It's been another busy week. But I love the busyness of this time of year, so I'm not complaining! Anyhow, I'm just adding a few photos of what's gone on in the Smith house this week.

Once again, Audrey had a bright idea ... and roped the rest of us into participating. She decided to make her own nativity scene in her room. Audrey was an angel (wearing a Cinderella dress and her flower girl headpiece) and Carter was Joseph (wearing Audrey's sweater coat as a robe ... Sorry, Carter). I was Mary and Chad was a wise man (she had outfits for us too but we managed to avoid getting into the picture!) You can see the baby "Jesus" there, a yellow star above Audrey's head, and the piggy bank sitting in the cradle is one of the wise men's gifts. :) I thought it was pretty cute. I'm glad the true meaning of Christmas has been communicated, not just Santa and presents!

This week Chad's Dad was here on business so we got to spend some time with him! It is his birthday next week (we won't say which one) and we had the chance to celebrate with cupcakes and a gift.

On Saturday we made a gingerbread house ... Audrey absolutely loves this tradition. This house was so easy because the kit came with PREMADE icing - I didn't realize that when I bought it but I was glad for that little detail. [Kelly, next time you have to buy this brand of gingerbread kit!]

Last night was Chad's company Christmas party, so for once I got to dress up and paint my nails!
We had a great time, and the food was awesome - filet mignon! Molten chocolate cake! Yum!

Hope everyone is finding time to enjoy this Christmas season. I absolutely love sharing it with the kids ... it's all so magical and fun! If I can just keep my energy up ... :)

Pictures that will NOT make it into the Christmas card ...

So, I've been trying to get the kids to take a half decent picture together that I can use for Christmas cards. Notice that my aspirations are not grand, as I am just looking for something half decent! Yet, as anyone with small children will attest to, this is much easier said than done! I thought I would share some of my failure attempts here ...

Nobody's looking, and Audrey's sneering ...

WHOA! WAY too close up ...

Yes, I lowered myself to bribing with food; the upside is that they actually cooperate, but the downside is that the kids are busy chewing and eating while I am trying to snap a picture ...

Ummm, this is pretty self-explanatory ...

In this one, Audrey has a candy cane stain across her mouth, and you can actually see pretzels hanging out of Carter's mouth - ew...

Kind of cute, but WAY cheesy, and again, we have that pretzel issue ...

So I did finally get a half decent one, you will be happy to know ... and it only took 3 days and 10 candy canes! (hahaha)