Mark’s birthday was on Sunday.  We met Phil and Sue at Houlihan’s to celebrate both Mark and Phil’s birthday.  After our delicious meal we walked through Brookfield Square Mall and then went to Babies ‘R Us. It probably wasn’t the most exciting birthday but at least we were still able to do our tradition of eating out at a nice restaurant with Phil and Sue.

I decided that along with Jeff, I was going to get Mark a camera flash.  I went to order it and it was out of stock, so needless to say it arrived late, but only by three days!  I ordered it from B&H Photo Video and was very happy with them once again.  I also ordered his tripod from there a few years ago for Christmas.  He is still learning how to use and so hopefully he will show off  his work soon.

Here are all of the birthday present pictures.

Wow!  I can’t believe we are halfway there.  I am feeling the baby move more and more and I have even been able to see my stomach move at the same time!  Our last appointment was on Monday and she told us that the ultrasound showed that the baby was a little less than a pound.  She also said that by the ultrasound that my due date would be May 28 but she is not going to officially change it to that.  That makes me think that we will be having a May baby which is what I felt anyway. 

I have been feeling pretty well, with only a few episodes of slight nausea but it’s not as severe as it was before.  It’s now only when I don’t eat and it normally passes quickly.  I have gained around 12 pounds with 7 of it being in the last month!  At least for the most part it’s just in my stomach. 

Thanks to Laura I am still able to wear my regular pants because she loaned me her bella bands.  A bella band is basically a piece of elastic that you where over your regular pants.  That way you don’t have to button or zip them and it doesn’t show and you don’t have to worry about your pants falling down.  The bella band is wonderful!!  Thanks again Laura!  I am also still in all of my regular shirts but am limited to the ones that actually fit. 

Here are my weekly belly shots.

GIRL!!

We had our ultrasound and everything looks good.  The tech couldn’t tell us too much but she did tell us if there was something she noticed might be a problem that she would have sent a doctor into the room.  We saw her brain, four chambers of the heart, kidneys, spine, hands, feet, profile, legs, arms, girl parts, and I’m sure there was more.  She was moving around like crazy!  The tech couldn’t get a picture of the kidneys because she was moving so much so she had me go to the restroom and after that the baby wasn’t moving as much.  I think she must have been cramped in there.

It was an absolutely amazing experience!  I could tell what more things were than I thought I would be able to.  The tech didn’t give us a percentage of how positive she was it was a girl but said that if she was wrong she wanted to know.  Neither Mark nor I saw anything that would make us think that she might be wrong. 

Our next regular visit is on Monday and it’s my understanding that the doctor will then be able to tell us more about the ultrasound, such as if the baby is growing at the right pace.

On Sunday, we celebrated a late Christmas with the Gilberts.  We had a great time with them as usual.  Phil and Sue made cheese soup and Italian beef sandwiches along with a few appetizers.  The food was fantastic as usual!!

Jeff and Dorene kept the tradition from last year and got us more top movies of all time, but this year they went with comedies.  We have a ton of new movies to watch and of course candy and popcorn to go along with the movies!  Dorene made Jeff a Bears fleece blanket and Sue got the ladies new blankets as well.

Here are all of the pictures.

On Saturday, January 3, Mark’s cousin Jonathan got married to Ashley.  It was a very nice wedding and reception.  At the reception we were able to learn a little more about Jonathan and Ashley as people as well as a couple.  Jonathan is really into games so they planned the reception as a game.  They asked questions about themselves growing up and about how they met.  Each table had certain questions to answer and they kept score to find out the winning team.  We were on the winning team!

Here are all of the pictures for their wedding.

While Jeff, Laura, and Ada were visiting we went into Milwaukee and ate at Mader’s Restaurant.  It was the first time that Mark and I had eaten at a German restaurant other than going to Mader’s for an appetizer during our Milwaukee Food Tour.  The food was delicious with the pretzel rolls and the Rueben rolls topping everyone’s list.

In the waiting area there was a huge chair that we had to make sure to get a picture of Ada sitting in.  She looked so tiny in the big chair!  Speaking of Ada, she was excellent at the restaurant.  She sat in the high chair and ate along with the rest of us.

Here are all of the pictures.