Christmas Eve with Mary and baby Jesus

**Editor's Note: I'm going to skip ahead to Christmas Eve and will post about Jenna's birthday later.

Christmas was a VERY busy time for us this year (especially with having Jenna' birthday party right in the middle of the holiday festivities). We had a fun day celebrating Christmas on Christmas Eve with Wes and Ashley. Then we dashed out to make it to church for a children's service. I really wanted to go because this was the first year they were doing this kind of service and I thought it would be perfect for Jenna. It started out with Pastor Kevin inviting all the kids to come up front. We sat in the 3rd row in hopes that Jenna might get the courage to join them. As predicted she stood next to Jeff at the end of our row watching and sucking her thumb with curiousness. Pastor and explained the the kids could chose from the many costumes and dress up as Mary, Joseph, the Shepards, the Angels or the Star and each child could then take a picture with baby Jesus (doll). As the kids began to try on costumes etc, Jenna decided it was the perfect time to go and take a closer look at baby Jesus in the manager. 
**I only had my cell phone to take pictures and videos.

We laughed and told her that she needed to return baby Jesus before the other kids noticed and she did...by dropping him in the manager! 
She then decided that maybe she wanted to try on a costume. She picked out a specific costume and with our help put it on. She is usually not this adventurous so we were a little surprised. We asked her if she wanted to hold Jesus like the other kids had. Of course she wanted to hold a baby.

 As the other kids took off their costumes and headed back to their seats Jenna decided she wanted to keep hers on. So we went back to our seat in preparation for the next song. Then Jenna decided she wasn't done holding Jesus..

We told her to return Jesus to the manager.

I thought she was done and wasn't sure what she was doing so I stopped the video. She went to get a "blanket" to cover Jesus (wish I would have caught it all on video).

At this point Jeff, Myrene, Glenn and I were all laughing so hard. We kind of waved to her to come back to sit with us but she decided she wanted to sit right up front on the stairs.

The people around us also started laughing and the woman in front of me turned around to say I have a movie star on my hands. I shook my head in disbelief and said I usually have a girl that doesn't like being the center of attention. So there she was at the front of the church and sat there through part of the song.

She evenutally came back to her seat. When we left church Pastor Kevin told her that she was the best Mary ever. We thought she was dressed as a Shepard! This is one of the best Christmas memories and I will cherish it forever!

 

 

Oh Boy!

Never thought I would be a mother to a boy and it looks like I get that chance. Baby #2 is a BOY!! 

Our doctor offered to do an early ultrasound at 15 weeks (11/14/12) to check on gender. Jeff couldn't be there so I had her put the gender in an envelope. I gave it to my friend Lindsay and she made a cake indicating either blue or pink. We cut into and it was pink! Yay, another girl!! I knew in my gut it was a girl. Everything felt just the same as when I was pregnant with Jenna. I had no doubts. We even put it on our Christmas card. Plus my doctor said she was 99% sure and she would be really embarrassed if she was wrong.  

I had my 20 week ultrasound on Wednesday. I was going to be there alone. Jeff thought he couldn't get away from work. But at the last minute he showed up (thank goodness). The ultrasound tech asked if we wanted to know gender and I said yes but we already knew. A little while later she said "now what did the doctor tell you?" I said, "girl, why?" She then told us that we are clearly having a BOY!! I was shocked. I knew in my heart that it was a girl...how could my instinct be so wrong. Although the last few weeks I was thinking about a baby boy and how maybe I was missing out on something. Was feeling off and then felt bad for thinking that way. Guess that was my instinct trying to tell me something!

It's a BOY

And then we saw that it was a BOY :) At first I was so shocked I didn't know what to think. I was also a little emotional. I think it was because I had told some people and put it on our christmas card and now I was going to have to re-tell people. I felt embarrassed but on the other hand my doctor told me she was 99% sure. When we told our family it was really funny to hear how many people thought we were kidding. When we told Jenna she didn't really get it...she will in a few months!

He was curled up in a ball and had his hands and feet up by his face

It was hard to focus on the rest of the ultrasound after that news but we did get to see the baby opening his mouth and resting his head on the placenta. We were lucky to see a few 3D images (see above). If you look below the ear you can see the umbilical cord...how cool is that! He was a mover and they had me go the bathroom twice hoping that he would calm down. It reminded me of a few ultrasounds with Jenna. She acted the same way. When I went to my doctor appointment afterwards, she felt bad and said she was sorry. She wondered if she should have took an early look. I am guessing for now on she won't!

19 weeks pregnant--on left (blue) with Jenna and right with baby boy

This pregnancy I have been pretty emotional (just ask Jeff) and even writing this I am tearing up. I can't believe how lucky I am to have a healthy little girl and now a little boy. Especially when at one point I never thought I could have children without spending thousands of dollars. We are truly blessed and I can't wait to meet my new love.