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Hi Ladies!!! Happy New Year!!  I never know when to stop saying that but since this is my first blog of 2014 I'm hoping it's perfectly ok to say Happy New Year!!  Well are you as tired as I am after the holidays?  I love this time of year but it was exhausting between getting ready for it, working, having visitors, traveling, and then getting a cold on top of all that.  It's nice to have absolutely no plans for January and just take the time to get caught up on things.

 As exhausting as this past month has been it also has been wonderful!!  I think when we last spoke December was just about to happen.  It was filled with many wonderful moments but one of our most exciting moments was on December 3rd, when we found out that this little baby is a girl!!  Not sure if you already saw the details from my previous post but her name is Bree and even better her sonogram revealed she is growing very healthy. It was such an amazing doctor’s visit because you are there for a good hour and they look at everything on the baby. Her mouth, her heart, her toes and fingers, and everything in between.  They counted her little fingers and all ten are there, made sure all four of her heart valves are there, we saw her lungs, her kidneys and they even ruled out some other birth defects.  It was amazing seeing her and watching her move and wonderful to hear that she is healthy.  The nurse asked before she started if we wanted to know the sex and we told her yes.  I thought that meant that we would find out in the beginning of the process but the way they work is by following the baby's movements and check all her body parts as they can see them so it wasn't till about half way through where we found out.  It was very exciting and shocking because I really thought I was having a boy!  So many people guessed boy that I figured they can't all be wrong, lol.  I will say there was something even more fun about hearing girl because I did think it was a boy.  Steve and I both just looked at each other and laughed and cried and I think we both instantly felt even closer to that little life inside of me knowing even more about her now.  After we left the doctor's we went out to breakfast and I think talked about this little girl the entire time!!! Then because I do love clothes especially when they are the tiniest size ever we did make a trip to the outlets that day to see if there were any good deals at the baby stores.  See pics!!

(Steve and I waiting at the Doctor's office to find out the sex of the baby!)

(The adorable outfits we picked out at the Outlets immediately after finding out we are having a baby girl! -- Too cute, right?)

Second to knowing that Bree is developing and healthy, the next big exciting day was the 14th when we had both our immediate family come to the house for the big announcement!  There are lots of fun, cute, creative ideas out there to announce the sex of your baby but since it was Christmas and we knew her name we decided that we would have a stocking made for her and hang it on the mantle at the party.  We had everyone show up around 1 and we all indulged in yummy apps and then before we served lunch Steve poured everyone a champagne toast, nonalcoholic for me, the nieces, and the pregnant younger sister and we hung Bree's stocking for everyone to see.  They were all so excited and happy and it didn't matter if she was a boy or a girl but just hearing a name and a sex and the fact that she is healthy was just so special.  We ate lunch afterwards, watched my nieces put on a show, and then sang Happy Birthday to Steve as he turned 37 on the 13th.  Unfortunately when it was time for everyone to head out the weather had gotten bad but everyone made it home safely and it was a wonderful weekend.  The day after we had two holiday parties.  One at my friend Bev's house and the other at David Dangle's.  It was just a fabulous weekend and so much fun!

(Just love the way Bree's stocking looks on the mantle )

(Brunch at Bev's house!)

(David Dangle and I at his Holiday party!)

That leads us to Christmas!!  I was off Christmas Eve and day so we started our adventures that Tuesday and went to Steve's parents for a Christmas Eve brunch.  His mom is an excellent cook and so she had made us individual quiches and homemade apple muffins, so good!!  We then headed to MD where my family lives and spent the evening of Christmas Eve at my big sisters.  She has a wonderful church where they do a children’s pageant on Christmas Eve that Abby and Reese (my nieces) participate in.   We start out at her church and then go back to her house for an evening of gourmet apps.  Her husband is the cook in their family and so we had fried ravioli, all sorts of oysters, my mom made stuffed mushrooms, my sis made a very yummy warm cheesy onion dip, and all sorts of other things.  I attempted a Kahlua ice box cake for dessert that night and it was ok.  Next time I make it I'm going with more layers and whipping the cream less.  After desert, more shows from the nieces and some sprinkling of reindeer dust and we said goodnight so they could get some sleep before Santa arrived and Steve and I and my parents headed to their house.  It dawned on me this Christmas that for 31 years I've woken up in the same house on Christmas morning!  It's all about to change as I no longer am only a daughter but a mother too.  Now Santa might have to come to PA instead of MD and then we join everyone at mom and dad’s.  I know it sounds funny but there was something about knowing that this was my last Christmas with just me and Steve that made me take it all in even more but also made me soooo excited for next year!!!

(Steve's mom preparing our delicious brunch!)

Christmas day Steve and I always have a fun breakfast with mom and dad and then drop off presents to my closest girlfriend and her family.  We've known each other since 6th grade and have always stayed close so it’s nice that she is just minutes away from my parents and we are able to see each other that morning.  Once back at my parents my sisters and their families show up and we start opening presents.  Bree was especially thought of this holiday and we came home with many new items for her.  My larger family shows up once its closer to dinner and we all get caught up then it’s time for the feast.  We have the traditional ham and the casseroles to go with it but we also do some Italian dishes as not everyone in my family enjoys ham.  Once cleaned up we have deserts and we play games that my grandmother who is English has made a tradition.  They are certainly designed more for children so Abby and Reese enjoy them the most but they always remind me of my childhood and all the Christmas's we've shared as a family so I can't help but get into them too!

 (Christmas morning at my parent's house!)

I went back to work the next few days but then had more adventures when Steve's sis Kathy and her husband Dennis arrived at our house the weekend before New Year's!  They live in Manhattan so we don't see each other as much as we would like so we always make the most of our time together.  We started the weekend with a family dinner at our house.  Steve and I made tenderloin with a dill sour cream sauce that was yummy, his mom brought a delicious desert, and the evening was excellent.  Monday Steve and I worked so Kathy and Dennis both being teachers took the day to just enjoy the last few days of their vacation and then Tuesday was New Year's Eve so we were out all day.  Started with a walk in the morning, and then we went to the Q so they could take a tour.  We had lunch out and then went to a beautiful garden in our area that gets decorated for the holiday.  It's called Longwood Gardens and it's quite the magical place if you ever visit PA.  We were all so tired afterwards that we just went home and munched on snacks and no one made it to midnight.

(Steve, Kathy, Dennis, and I operating the cameras on set 3 during our QVC tour)

(The four of us at lunch post QVC tour!)

 No more guests and no more parties now it’s full speed ahead on getting Bree's room together for her.  We already had a pink room from the previous home owners so we just left it pink and went with white furniture, and are doing a grey bedding set.  I actually ordered two different bedding sets so I could see them in person and decide which one I like best. There are other things we want to get too, like her curtains, a nursery chair, and then I registered for some cute décor pieces!  I know we still have 3 months till her arrival but I 'm hoping it’s all done by the end of February so we just have March to do last minute things and wait for her.  I'm still feeling her move all the time and I try to talk to her throughout the day so she starts to hear my voice.  So many times I just say I love you so she knows that I'm here waiting for her with so much love in my heart already. 

(The view from our bedroom to Bree's nursery!)

I've been feeling great.  I will say heart burn has been an issue and I had a cold that would not go away!  Other than that I have no complaints and am just enjoying every moment of this journey. I'll keep you posted as to what comes our way these next few weeks. Oh, and there will be something big coming because my younger sis is due any day with her first, a little boy!!  Technically the due date is the 18th but she is ready and for her sake we are hoping that this baby boy won't be late.  I'll let you know when he's here!!

 Hope you had a wonderful December and a great start to 2014.  Also I so enjoy reading your comments on both my blog and Facebook.  Thank you all for continuing to make Steve, Bree, and me feel a part of your life.  So exciting we get to share everything with you.

Love,

Amy