Anna and daddy get ready for their Super Bowl party at Matt's family's. Anna pratices pounding her fist to cheer on the Cardinals. She told Daddy she wanted to leave at halftime because she couldn't stand watching worthlessberger anymore. They came home and she quickly fell asleep.

Yes, we know our child is barefoot in the snow. Heck, we were all desperate for it to start melting so we could go outside.

Anna enjoyed her first taste of chocolate as she shared Matt's 30th birthday cake and a big glass of milk. I felt bad we couldn't celebrate the big 3-0 with friends and family so look for a joint party with me in the summer. Trivia: Matt and I have been together long enough that we spent our ENTIRE 20s together!

See the bruises on Matt's arm? That's what the husband gets as a souvenir when his wife chooses to have a natural, unmedicated birth. These were the result of the last hour. Matt never complained once as I ripped his arm off every two minutes....he better not, right?!

Anna meets her little sissy for the first time. (Anna stayed with Grandma and "baw baw" while we waited out the snow storm)

Our first family picture!

Anna practices her mommy skills and still gets some good, quality playtime with mommy and daddy.

(Last picture of Anna as an only child at about 7:30 pm. I'm in early labor in this picture. We ate LaRosa's -don't ask how I was in the mood for it- I labored at home and we left for the hospital at 3am)

Welcome Megan Jane!.....Finally...

Okay, so she's been here for 3 1/2 weeks already, but of course you wouldn't know if you ever check this blog. Let's just agree that life is a little different now and if we get a post up every 2 weeks from here on then we're doing well.

Megan was born Sunday January 25 at 9:32 am -which happened to be her due date! She was 8lb. 4oz. and 20.5 inches long. She's a beautiful, healthy baby and we are very blessed. Labor was a lot easier than Anna's. I was able to do it all unmedicated which was an amazing experience. It was really unbelievable to go through that (in a good way =). Thanks to Matt's wonderful support and encouragement and the skills of our doula, Barbara, I did it.

If you did your math correctly, Anna and and Megan are exactly 18 months apart. Anna has been a great big sister. I think she's at a perfect age to accept a baby into our home. There really hasn't been any jealousy at all. Her favorite part about Megan right now is touching her body parts - she loves to point out her eyes, nose, mouth, toes...It's adorable, until she tries to touch her eyeball.

I, especially, am very glad that we gave the girls sisters. I love my three brothers, but I always wanted to share that bond with a girl. I'm already imagining all the fun girl stuff that lies ahead for us. (Matt, on the otherhand, probably cant' get images of 13 years down the road out of his head.)

Here are the pictures I'm sure you're dying to see. Enjoy!

Protect Life

On the anniversary of the critical Roe v Wade decision to allow innocent lives to be killed everyday AND during the inauguration week of a new pro-abortion President, I thought this was a perfect video to add to our blog. It's a very clever way of making you think about that decision people call a "choice".

Matt and I had the opportunity of participating in both the '06 and '07 March for Life rallies in Washington D.C. and they were incredible experiences. We hope to do it again someday and take our children with us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2CaBR3z85c

NOVEMBER

Okay, so the truth is, I really have so many other things keeping me busy these days than working on posts for this blog. Sorry to our former loyal followers, but I just haven't had the energy to keep up.

The month of November was spent moving Anna into her "Big Girl" room. (Although since she's moving at the age of 18 months into another crib, I guess she's not so much of a "big" girl just yet =) This move consisted of painting light green over a red room, creating an office in the basement with two desks and new fax outlet and moving countless files and paperwork. Needless to say, we were consumed by the reorganization for awhile. Now that the computer's in the basement, I hardly ever have time to get on it so this is another reason the blog has been greatly neglected.

Anna's new room is finally complete and she loves it! She made the transition perfectly and she officially thinks her old room is now the baby's. It has gone very smoothly. I hope bringing the baby home is just as easy!

Anna's Halloween

So the monkey costume was a success. The night began with Anna practicing how to handle the pumpkin buckets. We then attempted the dreaded costume change. It started off pretty badly. When we stepped outside to continue the process on the front porch so she could watch the kids, it went very well. So well that the whole thing, hood and all, stayed on for three straight hours!

We sat at the top of the street to hand out candy and then went to the "block party" at our neighbors for a cookout, fireworks, and blow up slides for the kids. Needless to say, Anna was a tired little monkey by the time we headed home. Our little Anna Banana had a great time and she was definitely the cutest monkey on the block!

(sorry the video's sideways)

At the Pumpkin Patch

What childhood (or parenthood rather) is complete without pictures at the pumpkin patch? We had a blast watching Anna explore the pumpkins this year. She loved wandering all around and trying to pick them up. She especially enjoyed the wagon ride to pick out her own great pumpkin with her Daddy....We thought we'd also include a picture from last year for your viewing pleasure!

Belly Shots (not from Makers Mark)

What a sweetheart!!! Anytime I say "where's the baby in mommy's belly?", Anna automatically pulls up my shirt and kisses the baby. Here's a precious moment caught on film (sorry for those of you who might not like looking at the actual belly part =)

It Pays to Save...

I remember my mom always telling us that she didn't have any of her toys from growing up because her mom didn't save anything. She promised us she wouldn't throw anything out and instead let us make that decision when we got older. Boy, am I glad I have a daughter to pass my things on to....crates and crates worth.

It's been so fun going through my old memories and now watching my own little Anna start to enjoy them. She especially loves her "dollies" (pronounced in her sweet little voice 'dah-ees'). She does the "help" sign constantly to ask us to help her carry the one that's her own size. She has already proven that she will be an excellent big sissy soon caring for a new little baby!

And playing with a real baby...cousin Myla!

Our First Trip Away...

Matt and I have both enjoyed nights away on our own since Anna has been born, but never have we gotten away together. We headed to Louisville for a friend's wedding a few weeks ago and ended up making a trip out of it. We went to the Makers Mark Distillery, Bardstown, and hung out in Louisville. It was much enjoyed and MUCH needed. (We figured if we didn't do it now, our first "trip" away without Anna would be to Good Sam to have another baby. We opted to try now.)

Oh, and don't worry about the pictures. The baby only tried one shot =)